In Depth:  Church of England

The Church of England’s lead bishop for the controversial ‘Living in Love and Faith’ (LLF) sexuality discussions – tipped by some as the next Archbishop of Canterbury – says he continues to believe sex is only for heterosexual marriage.

Martyn Snow, Bishop of Leicester, who is being touted as a possible successor to Justin Welby, answered ‘yes’ when pressed on the point in an interview with en. And he said Church of England evangelicals in the Alliance (the umbrella group of orthodox believers in the denomination) should not yet despair about their wishes for alternative structural provision being met.

Amid great uncertainty in the Church of England, 380 delegates from over 170 churches have gathered at the national ReNew conference in Leeds.

ReNew is a united movement of Anglican evangelicals, both inside and outside of the Church of England, with a positive vision for the growth of the gospel through pioneering, establishing and securing healthy local churches.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been accused of making ‘significantly erroneous statements’ in relation to the Church of England’s teaching on sex – and also about decisions made as a result of its ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process debating contemporary ethics.

In a strongly-worded article on the widely-read Psephizo theological blog, Andrew Goddard, an ordained CofE minister and also Tutor in Ethics at both Westminster Theological Centre and Ridley Hall, Cambridge, says Justin Welby’s comments in an interview are ‘highly misleading’.

Evangelicals are criticising moves by Church of England bishops which could see orthodox Anglicans involved in episcopal appointments being effectively sidelined.

At a meeting in September, bishops said they would ask February’s General Synod to make a final decision.

Evangelicals in the Church of England are currently in an ‘unsustainable’ position following an ‘unprincipled’ process to liberalise teaching on same-sex relationships, leading evangelical minister Vaughan Roberts is warning.

Speaking to en, Roberts, who is rector of St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, called on more bishops to engage in face-to-face discussions with leaders of the Alliance, the umbrella group bringing together a spectrum of orthodox Christians in the denomination.

Iain Taylor

Well-known evangelist Rico Tice has recently left the Church of England and now worships at the International Presbyterian Church (IPC), Ealing.

In an exclusive interview with Evangelicals Now, he explains why he made the switch, and what his advice is to evangelicals themselves wrestling with leaving.

Milla Ling-Davies

Despite having the idea rejected for a third time at February’s General Synod, evangelicals within the Church of England (Cof E) are continuing to fight for a form of structural differentiation.

In the wake of the Synod, Bishop Martyn Snow is now undertaking ‘shuttle diplomacy’ to develop concrete proposals that will progress implementation of Living in Love and Faith (LLF) at the next Synod. In a first step towards this, on 8 March he formed three working groups – one to draft proposed pastoral guidance, one to draft proposals for ‘pastoral reassurance’, and one to do more work on the Prayers of Love and Faith. A number of evangelicals have already joined these groups. And the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has said it will welcome every opportunity to converse with Bishop Martyn during this period – and will still be pushing for a structural change.

Richard Coekin, the Senior Pastor of Dundonald Church, Wimbledon, says the 1,100-strong congregation has finally severed all links with the Church of England because of its ‘tragic denial of God’s word’.

Speaking to en, Coekin said the CofE’s so-called Prayers of Love and Faith ‘encourage same-sex attracted people down a path which leads away from God and His salvation instead of lovingly warning and supporting them in godliness’. He added: ‘We cannot accept this – or walk with those who do.’

As the Church of England gears up for another session of its General Synod (23-27 February), evangelicals are welcoming a robustly orthodox statement from many bishops.

In a document entitled A Theological Vision, seven bishops – on behalf of a much wider group – declare: ‘Marriage is more than a contingent social arrangement. As the joyful, lifelong union of male and female, the two forms of created humanity, marriage is a dynamic sign of the saving union between Christ and the Church through the Spirit, from which our salvation springs.

Diocesan Evangelical Fellowships (DEFs) around the Church of England are grappling with what to do following the introduction of ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ (PLF).

en contacted local groups in each part of the country following the CofE’s move in a more liberal direction in the run-up to Christmas.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has named a panel which will ‘discern those who will be providing… informal alternative spiritual oversight’ for CofE evangelicals.

It includes ex-bishops Julian Henderson, Rod Thomas and Pete Broadbent, plus Brian O’Donoghue of ReNew, John Coles of New Wine, Jane Patterson, Elaine Sutherland and Busola Sodeinde. On its website, ceec.info, National Director John Dunnett said on 7 December: ‘There are clergy and congregations who will now regard themselves as in impaired fellowship with… bishops’ due to November’s same-sex relationships Synod vote. He said the action was ‘necessary to… enable those committed to the Biblical and historical teaching’ to stay in the CofE.

They say good fences make good neighbours. Partners in the gospel across denominational divides instinctively appreciate that to peer, eyebrows raised, into one another’s pastoral backyards is generally neither welcome nor helpful. So we tend to stick to our own patches and bite our tongues.

But sometimes the rule has to be broken.

Iain Taylor

Jill Duff, Bishop of Lancaster, who is orthodox on issues of sex and sexuality, and has been a leading voice opposing change, spoke to en.

She said: ‘Why should we leave? One of my heroes of church planting in the Polynesian islands was George Selwyn, an architect of the Anglican Communion. He had a compellingly pragmatic response to error: “But how, you will ask, shall the truth of doctrine be maintained if we tolerate in the mission field every form of error, and provide no safeguard for the purity of the faith? I answer that, as running water purifies itself, so Christian work is seen to correct its own mistakes.” I urge evangelicals to resist any intimidation, but instead to stay and contend for the gospel through the Church of England.’

An email from C.S. Lewis’ fictitious devil Screwtape has unexpectedly fallen into the hands of en.

My dear Wormwood,

Wallace Benn, a former Bishop of Lewes, writes: I was privileged to be part of the group at the Lambeth Conference of world-wide Anglican bishops in 1998 which produced the statement overwhelmingly supported by the Conference, which included:

‘… while rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture, calls on all people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all …’

Evangelical leaders in the Church of England are pledging to do all they can to ‘ensure evangelical life and witness’ can continue in the denomination following a contentious vote on same-sex blessings.

The C of E’s General Synod – its ‘parliament’ with three houses: of bishops, clergy and laity – voted on a complex series of motions and amendments with the result that stand-alone services for the blessing of gay and lesbian couples now look likely to go ahead on a ‘trial’ basis. 

Iain Taylor

Young ordained evangelical ministers will still be needed under every likely future of the Church of England. That was the keynote message from Charlie Skrine, Rector of All Soul’s Langham Place, as he addressed the Church Society’s recent Junior Anglican Evangelical Conference.

Other speakers included Ros Clarke and James Cary (who, with Skrine, now serve on General Synod), together with Lee Gatiss, George Crowder and Rob Munro, the new Bishop of Ebbsfleet.

On Sunday 1 October 2023, Bishop Andy Lines inaugurated Wellfield Church, Leyland, Lancashire, into the Anglican Convocation in Europe (ACE) and instituted Mark Simpson as Rector.

Mark reflects on their journey out of the Church of England and into ACE:

Dismay, anger and outrage from across the Church of England evangelical spectrum are greeting fresh proposals by bishops in relation to sexuality.

A majority of the C of E’s House of Bishops says it will commend its divisive ‘Prayers of Love and Faith’ for use with same-sex couples ‘in public worship’ such as Sunday services – while 11 have publicly dissented.

Radical plans are being developed for orthodox bishops to support evangelical parishes on a non-geographical basis – if the liberal trajectory in the Church of England on sexuality continues.

There would also be a new ‘fellowship’ of bishops, clergy and lay people which may ultimately become ‘an alternative structure.’

Milla Ling-Davies

Hundreds have gathered from Church of England churches across the London Diocese to pray in light of recent proposals for prayers of blessing for those in same-sex relationships.

The event was held in All Souls Langham Place and run by LonDEN (Diocese of London Evangelical Network), which represents Church of England evangelical churches from across the city.

Iain Taylor

Church of England evangelicals are pressing anew for ‘structural rearrangement’ in their aim for visible differentiation from error in the denomination.

The fresh push comes ahead of another General Synod discussion scheduled for July following February’s controversial votes over same-sex blessings.

Opposition to Church of England proposals for same-sex blessing prayers is gaining momentum under the banner ‘Compelled to Resist’.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is spearheading a petition called ‘Keeping faith – why we are compelled to resist’ which says current proposals from bishops ‘deny the authority of Scripture’ – whatever their protestations to the contrary.

Many British evangelicals basically want a bishop who will agree with them and then keep out of their way.

Or at least that’s true among the older ones, like the advocates for a nationwide ‘third province’ where a handful of bishops can turn up on occasion from some remote Oswestrian corner of the country and pronounce the magic words at ordination. But aligning with the Global South Fellowship of Anglicans under its current chair Archbishop Justin Badi Arama would be subscribing to a much more demanding version of a bishop specifically and Anglicanism generally. Have we got the stomach for it?

A Church of England minister who has a ‘heart for the north of Scotland’ has accepted a call to be minister of Thurso & North Coast Free Church – part of the Free Church of Scotland.

Jerry Taylor has been welcomed into ministry in the FCoS after serving for 15 years in the C of E. ‘We are encouraged that when the Lord calls, He equips, and He will provide,’ he said.

Evangelical eyes in the Church of England are on the date of 12 December, which is when the College of Bishops next meets to discuss human sexuality.

The gathering is the latest stage at the end of the process known as ‘Living in Love and Faith’ which has been running for some years. It could see a reassertion of orthodox morality – or a retreat from it.

Church of England evangelicals have gathered for a major conference in the face of ongoing silence from many evangelical bishops on sexuality and concern about where the Church of England’s ‘Living in Love and Faith’ process is leading.

Hundreds of delegates attended the ReNew event for conservative evangelicals in Leeds with the theme ‘Abide in Me’.

Over five hot and sunny days at the University of York, the Church of England’s General Synod met to debate and discuss issues of national and international concern, as well as internal church business.

The war in Ukraine, assisted dying, and age limits on pornography were among the issues where Synod agreed motions calling Parliament and the nation to act in accordance with Christian morality. Many evangelical members were amongst those who gave moving speeches sharing personal testimony of these evils and also of the transformative power of the gospel in these situations.

Longstanding evangelical Synod member Sarah Finch writes: Newly-elected evangelical members of General Synod are getting into their stride - or so it seems to this correspondent. 

Growing in confidence, they speak of their own faith in the Lord Jesus, and refer to Scripture. The report ‘Setting God’s People Free’, about local churches helping people be missionary disciples, Sunday to Saturday, was so warmly welcomed by one young woman that she raised her arms in the air! Such enthusiasm is rare. 

Crucial elections which could determine the fate of the Church of England and the future of evangelicals within it are taking place.

Voting for the denomination’s General Synod is now underway and will conclude on 9 October. The result is seen as crucial for imminent decisions on issues to do with human sexuality.

The Revd Angus MacLeay, Rector of St Nicholas, Sevenoaks, has just stood down from the Church of England’s General Synod after 22 years. He spoke to en’s Iain Taylor. Below that, Sarah Finch reports on the just-finished Synod meeting.

Angus, what are your reflections on your time at Synod?

Lis Goddard and Ed Shaw have become Co-Chairs of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), it has been announced.

Ed Shaw is pastor of Emmanuel City Centre Church in Bristol, a congregation established in recent years via a Bishop’s Mission Order. He is also Director of Living Out – an organisation run by same-sex-attracted Christians setting out an orthodox, Biblical view of sexuality.

Evangelicals in the Church of England are urging Christians to think more deeply about racial issues.

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) has launched a suite of video resources aimed at getting congregations to think biblically about how they can become more racially aware, sensitive and inclusive.

Evangelicals in the Church of England have been preparing to contend in the wake of the launch of Living in Love and Faith – while a new Anglican network has also been set up.

At the latest General Synod, a presentation was given on the new Living in Love and Faith (LLF) resources on issues of sexuality and gender.

The Church of England has published a new set of resources called Living in Love & Faith (LLF) looking at marriage, sexuality and transgender issues.

Andrew Goddard reports:

Nearly 400 people in positions of trust within the Church of England have been convicted of sexual offences against children since the 1940s, a damning report has found.

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse found the Church failed to protect children and young people from sexual predators within its ranks and instead created a culture where abusers could hide.

Sarah Finch, a conservative evangelical General Synod member, reports on its most recent session and reflects on what lies ahead.

For its summer session, General Synod met online, for the first time in its history.