Settlement would be good for all
by Ed Shaw, Church Times:
It would enable people of different convictions about sexuality to flourish.
THOSE of us who are seeking a formal settlement to resolve the Church of England’s endless conversations on same-sex sexual relationships have not yet persuaded enough people. We have been heard to make demands that would benefit only us and lead the Church into schism rather than seek a way forward that could benefit us all and keep the Church of England together.
But the most recent meeting of the General Synod (Synod, 1 March) helped me to see that we all need a uniting settlement. The paperwork, questions, conversations, speeches, and votes made me realise, slowly, that most of us are looking for the same six things, which, I believe, we can unite around.
We all want doctrine and liturgy that gives us the freedom to do and say what we believe in. If you want same-sex marriage, you know that you need to change Canon B30 some time soon, and yet cannot see how that will happen any time soon. If you cannot, in good conscience, accept same-sex sexual relationships, you are unhappy with the ambiguous Prayers of Love and Faith, which many see as undermining current church teaching on marriage and sex.
Even if you are just concerned about the following of the proper processes, you do not like the gap that seems to be appearing between our doctrine and liturgy. A uniting settlement could introduce transparent changes in ways that are legally robust — including protections for people’s consciences.
Read here (£)
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