The Church of England has abandoned plans to deliver blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples following years of debate. The General Synod voted in favour of offering blessings to same-sex couples in civil partnerships and marriages in 2023, as an alternative to gay marriage ceremonies, with a process set up for how the stand-alone blessing services would work. The process, carried out by the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) group, has stalled in the years since, however, and racked up costs of £1.66 million, including on consultancy, staffing and conferences – leading to its formal abandonment by the Church’s national assembly this week.
Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell acknowledged the « pain and disappointment » of church members and attributed the result to « failures of process that have caused real pain to many on all sides of this chamber ». « This is not where I want us to be, nor where I hoped we would be three years ago, » he said. « And I want to acknowledge that wherever you stand on the debate, I know that many of you are feeling angry and disappointed. »
The archbishop said a working group had been proposed to continue discussion of how identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage fit with Church teaching.
He also apologised for the hurt caused to « both sides », with the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) previously suggesting that the approval of blessings had « alienated many of us who hold to the historic and biblical Anglican doctrine ».
But Reverend Charlie Bączyk-Bell, a gay priest and Synod member based in London, accused the archbishop of making a « false equivalence » between the two groups.
« It is not the same to have your entire self debated, ripped apart, dissected, insulted, trampled on in this chamber and more widely as though it were a mere abstract question, » he said.
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He also suggested the process had amounted to a « facestious charade » and apologised to LGBTQ+ church members « for what we continue to put you through » and « that we cannot celebrate you in the way we should ».
The motion to conclude the process by July also confirmed that the Synod would « recognise and lament the distress and pain many have suffered » during it.
New Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally touched on the debate in her address on Thursday, suggesting that it had « left us wounded as individuals and also as a Church » and « touched some of our deepest theological views but also the core part of our identity ».
A letter published in January by the House of Bishops said that while a dialogue around the issues « will and must continue, we also recognise that the Synodical process which began in February 2023 now needs to draw to a conclusion, albeit in a way which is imperfect, untidy and which leaves some important questions unresolved. »
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