The Church of England’s House of Bishops has agreed in principle that prayers asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples - known as Prayers of Love and Faith – should be commended for use.
However, they concluded that structures for special services for same-sex couples, based on Prayers of Love and Faith, should be formally authorised under canon law. That would require approval by General Synod and involve consultation with every diocese in a process expected to take until 2025.
Draft pastoral guidance will come to next month’s meeting of Synod, setting out how the system may operate. There is also further work under way to explore further forms of pastoral reassurance, including formal structural pastoral provision, to ensure the conscience of everyone is respected.
The House of Bishops gave serious consideration to an alternative legal process which could have enabled special services to be authorised almost immediately - but temporarily – (under Canon B5A). This would still have required a further process for the services to be authorised permanently (under Canon B2) by Synod.
After considering the legal, theological and pastoral implications of this approach, the bishops concluded that it would ultimately be clearer to proceed under Canon B2.
Bishop Martyn and Bishop Saju will be looking to communicate about the changes and next steps following the November Synod. In the meantime, you are welcome to contact them with any questions you may have.
What’s the difference between commending and authorising?
Commendation is when prayers or other liturgical materials are put forward by the House of Bishops as being suitable for use by ministers in exercise of their discretion under Canon B5. Authorisation is more formal and means that a service becomes an integral part of the official liturgical resources of the Church of England available for use. The intention is to seek authorisation from General Synod for the special services. This will require two-thirds majorities in each of its three Houses.
Is the Church changing its view of marriage?
The Church’s understanding of marriage – or Holy Matrimony – remains as a lifelong, faithful and exclusive covenant between one man and one woman. After years of discussion, prayer and study, the Church has not come to a consensus on whether it is possible or not to extend Holy Matrimony to same-sex couples. Yet many wish now to be able to recognise the commitment same-sex couples make to each other and publicly pray for God’s blessing on them.
So, because the Church is in a time of uncertainty the Prayers of Love and Faith are to be offered as what is called a pastoral provision. Pastoral provision is a way of responding to and working with, the reality of people’s lives while maintaining an ideal or teaching. In this case, while the doctrine of marriage has not changed, it is held alongside pastoral wisdom and compassion.
What happens next?
Following the decision in principle, the Prayers of Love and Faith will be commended by the House of Bishops. No specific date for this has been set. Draft pastoral guidance will come to November’s meeting of Synod, setting out how the system may operate. Synod will also receive details of further work under way to explore further forms of pastoral reassurance to ensure the conscience of everyone is respected. Authorisation under Canon B2 would require approval by General Synod in a process expected to take until 2025. It is intended that this process should involve consultation with every diocese through its diocesan synod.