Bishop of Newcastle quits LLF post over appointment of a conservative theological advisor to the House of Bishop

Feb 1, 2024 by Jill

by Julian Mann, Anglican Ink:

The appointment of a conservative opponent of same-sex blessings as interim theological adviser to the Church of England’s House of Bishop has led to the bombshell resignation of the Bishop of Newcastle, Helen-Ann Hartley, as co-lead bishop of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process.

Bishop Hartley became co-lead LLF bishop with the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, after the Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, stepped down as the LLF lead bishop in November. Bishop Hartley said in a statement posted on the Newcastle Diocese website on February 1^st:

‘It has become clear to me in the last 48 hours that there are serious concerns relating to the recent process of appointing an Interim Theological Advisor to the House of Bishops. This was, and is not, an LLF appointment, and neither Bishop Martyn nor myself were involved in it. Whilst the remit of the theological advisor is broader than any matters relating to LLF, there is no doubt that LLF remains front and centre in the life of our Church at this time.

‘What has transpired in the last 48 hours has had a critically negative impact on the work Bishop Martyn and I were seeking, in good faith, to do. My role as co-lead bishop for the LLF process is now undermining my capacity to fulfil my primary calling, to lead and care for the people and places of the Diocese of Newcastle.’

The interim theological adviser is the Revd Dr Tom Woolford, who as a member of General Synod has opposed the introduction of services of blessing for same-sex couples. According to a statement issued by the CofE’s Faith and Order Commission: ‘Following the announcement that the Rev Dr Isabelle Hamley, Secretary for Theology to the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops, is leaving at the end of February to become Principal of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, a recruitment process is due to begin shortly to appoint a permanent successor.

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