Anglican groups revolt against same-sex blessing plan

Conservative body in Church of England encourages dioceses to protest, and says opposition is growing

Harriet Sherwood

Conservative clergy and parishioners have launched a small but vocal revolt against the Church of England’s plan to offer to bless the civil marriages of same-sex couples, a move that some Christians believe is contrary to biblical teaching.

In Buckinghamshire, a large group parish plans to refuse to offer blessings to same-sex couples in its seven churches and is taking steps to withhold its annual contribution of £235,000 to the diocese of Oxford in protest.

A group of traditionalist clergy in the City of London have unilaterally formed an independent structure within the C of E as an act of “resistance” to blessings.

The actions are backed by the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), a conservative body that has pledged to resist all attempts to introduce church blessings to same-sex couples, known as prayers of love and faith, this year. The CEEC is encouraging churches in all dioceses to make protests, and claims opposition is growing.

After years of bitter divisions over sexuality, the C of E’s governing body, the General Synod, voted by 250 to 181 in February to back a proposal by bishops to offer blessings on a voluntary basis for clergy.

Traditionalists insist marriage can only be between a man and a woman, and that the plan to bless same-sex marriages is a departure from biblical orthodoxy.

Since the synod vote, conservative archbishops in Nigeria, Uganda, South Sudan and Egypt have warned of radical action against the “blessing of sin”.

In Buckinghamshire, Great Chesham parochial church council (PCC) voted last month to support local clergy who refuse to bless same-sex marriages. Some parishioners fear the PCC’s stance means gay couples will be unable to find a church willing to bless their civil marriage in the town and surrounding villages.

The £235,000 that Great Chesham pays annually to the diocese to cover clergy salaries and other costs represents about 1.2% of the diocese’s annual budget of £19.4m. The PCC voted last month in favour of withholding the payment but must rerun the process after failing to comply with church rules. Three other parishes in the diocese are thought to be considering similar moves.

Edward Bowes-Smith, the team rector of Great Chesham parish, said the PCC had “voted to support its clergy who, on grounds of good conscience, have opted not to use prayers of love and faith. We are also in the process of consulting PCC members about setting up an overdue review of our finances.”

Alan Wilson, a suffragan bishop in the diocese, said only a handful of churches shared the views of the Great Chesham PCC, stressing that services of blessing were voluntary. “Those who want to can do so, while those who don’t are exactly where they always were. Nothing has changed for them at all.”

A spokesperson for the diocese of Oxford said: “We have not been advised of any move to cancel the parish share payments by the [Great Chesham] PCC, though we are aware that there are discussions under way.”

In London, 10 conservative priests who oppose church blessings for same-sex couples have unilaterally set up an independent “deanery chapter”.

In a video announcing the move, Phil Martin, a vicar at St Botolph’s Aldersgate, who was elected by the group as area dean, said: “Since the [bishops have] departed from the bible’s teaching on marriage and sin … change is needed. New structures are needed.”

They invited support from “all clergy who are compelled to resist … on the grounds that [the bishops’] proposed prayers of love and faith undermine the C of E’s doctrine of marriage such that we can no longer walk in partnership together.”

In response, the diocese of London said in a statement that the group was “seeking to set up its own parallel, unregulated structures outside of those of the diocese of London and the Church of England. This unilateral move would have no legal substance.”

John Dunnett, the director of strategy and operations at the CEEC, said: “The bishops’ proposals neither satisfy those who want to see equal marriage in the C of E, nor those who want to maintain the biblical and historical position.”

The CEEC was encouraging churches to take “appropriate” action, he said. “The key thing is for bishops to know that opposition is profound, widespread and growing.”

Jayne Ozanne, a campaigner for LGBT+ equality in the C of E, said: “The synod’s decision to enable blessings of people in same-sex unions upheld the long-established Anglican tradition of freedom of conscience, meaning that none of this small handful of clergy would have been impacted anyway.

“If they want to set up their own structures then they should remove themselves from established ones – they can’t have their cake and eat it.”