C of E evangelicals in watershed fight for own bishops, structures and training

Evangelicals in the Church of England are facing a battle of historic Reformation-era significance as they fight to secure guarantees that might enable them to continue in the denomination.

After February’s General Synod vote, which approved in principle giving clergy the option of using marriage-style ‘prayers of blessing’ for same-sex couples, with only four bishops opposing the idea, the focus now moves to key Synod decisions this July. Speaking exclusively to en, Ed Shaw, co-chair of the Church of England Council (CEEC), said strong safeguards would be needed.

‘Visible differentiation is going to need to involve pastoral oversight from orthodox bishops. It’s going to need to involve pathways for training that happen in institutions that believe in Biblical teaching. It’s going to need to preserve a degree of unity across the C of E but without theological compromises.’