The Torn Up Marriage by Caroline Roberts

This was instigated after the Synod voted down a previous report from the Bishops on sexuality in 2017 ( News, 17 February 2017).īefore the debate, the chair, Geoffrey Tattersall (Manchester), warned that the discussion would be uncomfortable for everyone. The motion was the culmination of six years of discussion about a way forward for the Church on sexuality, under the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project. The final motion therefore included the original apology for the Church’s treatment of LGBT community and a commitment to replacing the guidance Issues of Human Sexuality. Most of the original motion from the College and House of Bishops survived, despite dozens of attempts to alter and remove clauses - or, in one instance, rewrite the motion entirely - over the two days. Voting was: Bishops 36-4, with two recorded abstentions Clergy 111-85, with three recorded abstentions Laity 103-92, with five recorded abstentions. The debate on the motion ( News, 20 January), which began on Wednesday afternoon, overran by several hours, and concluding before the lunchtime adjournment on Thursday with vote by Houses on the amended motion. THE General Synod welcomed the Bishops’ proposals for providing prayers to bless same-sex couples in church on the Thursday - but with a last-minute proviso that their use would not contradict the Church’s current teaching on marriage.

The Torn Up Marriage by Caroline Roberts