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.
‘The CEEC will be making representation of what evangelicals need, not just to remain but to flourish in the Church of England,’ said John Dunnett, Director of CEEC. ‘We will be articulating the need for orthodox bishops, the need to be able to teach what Scripture says about sin and holiness and call out error, and we will be making a proposal that could lead to a reorganisation of provinces and dioceses.’
Four myths about contending for truth in the CofE
For evangelicals in the Church of England, and especially those in full-time ministry, “contending for the faith” has become a …