GS2328 – Living in Love and Faith – November -A brief summary
from Anglican Futures:
Today the Church of England published “GS 2328 – Living in Love and Faith – setting out the progress made and work still to do”, a 108 page document. It outlines the plans for introducing the Prayers of Love and Faith and the pastoral guidance and pastoral reassurance which will accompany them.
This is a quick summary for those without the time or inclination to read the whole document.
“The motion agreed by Synod in February has shaped the space within which this work has been conducted; a space where the Pastoral Principles are embedded in our life as a church and in which there is a commitment to continued learning together relation to identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. The motion also committed to new guidance and prayers for the blessing of same-sex relationships being issued but with no change to the doctrine of marriage, and no change contrary to or indicative of a departure from the doctrine of the Church of England.”
The Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) have now been divided into three sections:
1. Prayers for covenanted friendships – the bishops have agreed to commend these prayers.
Covenant friendship is defined as:
“Covenanted friendships are relationships of an entirely different nature to marriage. Those who wish to seal a covenanted friendship may be of the same sex or opposite sexes. The friends may be married to other people, or unmarried. The friendship is by definition not sexually intimate. It will likely be expressed in practical forms of sharing aspects of life together. As with all friendships, care will need to be taken to identify the nature of the covenant and how the bonds of covenanted friendship will complement other friendships and (where relevant) the bonds of marriage.” (p12 pdf)
The issue of covenanted friendship / marriage is explored further in the pastoral guidance:
“Covenants with respect to friendship are of a fundamentally different nature to a marriage covenant, and this difference needs to be explored thoroughly. If a person seeking to enter a covenanted friendship is married, it would be good practice to explore how this different type of covenant may impact or enrich the distinct and still deeper covenant of marriage to which they are already committed.” (p57 pdf 1.2.7)
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