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.
Speaking later, after this week's news that C of E bishops are giving the go ahead to the optional use of some prayers of blessing for same-sex couples, John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said: 'CEEC deeply regrets the announcement from the House of Bishops which indicates that a selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and asking for God’s blessing for same sex couples can be used in Church of England services from Sunday 17 December. As reported in our statement on 17 November, this confirms our belief that a line has been crossed, which we hoped and prayed would not happen.'
Church of England: Revitalisation instead of retreat
In the ever-deepening crisis over blessings for same-sex couples – Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) – it is understandable …