Living in Love and Faith
Living in Love and Faith is the Church of England’s discernment process about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
At its February 2023 meeting, the Church of England’s General Synod, voted in favour of proposals from the bishops which would enable same-sex couples who have marked a significant stage of their relationship such as a civil marriage or civil partnership to come to church to give thanks, offer prayers of dedication to God and to receive God’s blessing.
The proposals include a set of draft texts known as Prayers of Love and Faith. It will be up to individual clergy to decide if they will use the prayers or not.
The College of Bishops has set up three working groups to implement Synod’s decision, tasked with:
- Drafting new pastoral guidance
- Further refining the texts of Prayers of Love and Faith in the light of feedback from Synod
- Examining what pastoral reassurance will be required to ensure freedom of conscience for clergy and laity.
The Bishop of Credition, the Rt. Rev’d Jackie Searle, is Co-Chair of the pastoral reassurance group.
Living in Love and Faith Conversations
Living in Love and Faith Conversations is a new resource we have created to enable churches, mission communities and deaneries to have constructive conversations about the draft Prayers of Love and Faith. It has been designed as a 90-minute one-off facilitated group discussion. It has carefully been structured to enable people to share their reflections about the prayers in a safe and supportive way. You can run it independently or request a diocesan facilitator if you would like to. Download a copy of LLF Conversations here.
You can find the latest information about Living in Love and Faith here.
Even though the churchwide engagement phase has now ended, the LLF book, study guides, podcasts and real-life personal story films are still a very helpful resource for churches and individuals around the subjects of sexuality, gender, identity, relationships and marriage.
To access everything you need please visit the Living in Love and Faith website.
Here is a guide to some useful background reading.
Contact
If you would like a pastoral conversation in confidence about Living in Love and Faith and the proposals please email once of our volunteer LLF Chaplains.
Bishop Jackie has written this prayer for the LLF Process, which you are welcome to download and use.
