from Religion Media Centre
The Church Times sent a reporter to find the early morning pre breakfast fringe meeting at the general synod, organised by the conservative group Christian Concern in support of gay conversion practices.
One of the speakers was Matthew Grech, who was gay until he converted to Christianity and is now married to Holly.
Eighty members of synod protested about the meeting in advance, but the reporter witnessed only a handful of protesters banging on the windows outside the meeting room.
Back in the synod debating chamber, the deep divisions over same sex relationships were on display again in a motion seeking support for the view that “there are no fundamental objections to being in a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship, and that such a relationship can be entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.”
Clergy and laity were in favour but the bishops voted against by 14 to 11, amid concern it opened up old wounds, and so the motion fell.