On the 22nd of January 2020, the Church of England released a "Pastoral Statement" from the House of Bishops to address the recent change in the law to extend civil partnerships to opposite-sex couples. This Fulcrum article is intended as something of a 'Briefing' to the statement, the subsequent discussion surrounding its publication and some food for thought as you consider your own response, conscious of the context of both Living in Love and Faith and Lambeth 2020.
The Pastoral Statement
- The House of Bishops' Pastoral Statement (.pdf file) is available on the Church of England website, published 22 Jan 2020.
- Update: Statement from the Archbishops following the College of Bishops meeting, dated 30 January 2020.
Comment from individual Bishops
- On the 26th of January, the Bishop of Gloucester published a letter on her diocesan website expressing frustration and sadness "at the way [the statement] was published."
- Subsequently the diocesan Bishops of Worcester, Bristol, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Norwich all used Twitter to agree with Rachel Treweek. Among the suffragans, there was also support from the Bishops of Repton, Crediton, and Tewkesbury. Scroll down for their Tweets.
- The Bishop of Lichfield and his suffragan Bishops of Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton published a brief pastoral note on the diocesan website.
- The Bishop of Liverpool also tweeted about the Pastoral Statement but took a different tack. He pointed his followers to an Open Letter from Christina Baron, Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain, Ven Peter Leonard and Jayne Ozanne. See below for his Tweet.
- The new Bishop of Reading described the statement as cold, legalistic and loveless. See below for her Tweet.
Articles and comment of interest
- Letter to the Archbishops from Canon Simon Butler and Canon Chris Newlines, respectively the Prolocutors of the lower houses of Canterbury and York, asking for the statement to be withdrawn and apology made.
- The Open Letter to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York from Christina Baron, Revd Andrew Foreshew-Cain, Ven Peter Leonard and Jayne Ozanne was published on Anglican.ink.
- Ian Paul wrote in defence of the Bishops and an orthodox view of marriage in his Pszephizo blog: "What is going on in the Bishop's comments on Civil Partnerships?"
- On Sunday morning, Ian was also in discussion with Bishop Alan Wilson on the Sunday Programme on Radio 4 (01:07 - 09:30). Fulcrum's Joshua Penduck has kindly transcribed the discussion, which is now available on this website.
- Mandy Ford's article "What the Bishops could have said" is available on ViaMedia.
- The Church Society issued a response on their website.
- A reminder of Fulcrum's response to the Civil Partnership Act, published in 2005.
Further coverage
- Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, formerly Bishop of Rochester, gave a response on Anglican.ink.
- Giles Fraser on Thought for the Day. "‘The Church is often accused of not practising what it preaches. Here, the church is not preaching what it practices."
- Press coverage in Christianity Today with David Baker.
- Press coverage in The Times with Nicholas Hellen.
- Press coverage in The Guardian with Harriet Sherwood.
The Episcopal comment on Twitter
Worcester
I echo all that Bishop Rachel says. https://t.co/ZX9Yph1GFk
— John Inge (@BishopWorcester) January 26, 2020
Bristol
I support all that +Rachel has said here and am grateful she has said it https://t.co/WUZvO3vZXc
— Bishopviv (@Bishopviv1) January 26, 2020
Newcastle
As am I https://t.co/OQQCavt6FM
— Christine Hardman (@BishopNewcastle) January 26, 2020
Sheffield
V helpful comment & context here from @BishGloucester https://t.co/laskp6wg1B
— Pete Wilcox (@PeteWilcox1564) January 26, 2020
Norwich
2/2 I pledge to do all I can to ensure that the Living in Love and Faith project has a tone and warmth and care that seeks a way forward that, whilst acknowledging different opinions, puts precious life and love at the heart of the conversation and our welcome. https://t.co/fVrBsnmmQk
— Graham Usher (@bishopnorwich) January 26, 2020
Repton
This. https://t.co/gDMo606Eng
— Bishop of Repton (@BpRepton) January 26, 2020
Repton
Thank you for your statement @BishGloucester https://t.co/cAQyebbWU8
— Jackie Searle (@jackiesearle09) January 26, 2020
Crediton
Thank you for your statement @BishGloucester https://t.co/cAQyebbWU8
— Jackie Searle (@jackiesearle09) January 26, 2020
Tewkesbury
As always deeply thankful for the leadership, wisdom and pastoral care of @BishGloucester This has indeed caused unnecessary pain and distress and I am deeply sorry for that. The love of God needs to be heard and lived.... https://t.co/J0i1QSt6kR
— Robert Springett (@bptewkesbury) January 26, 2020
Liverpool
The recent House of Bishops’ statement may of course receive comment from all who wish to comment. This is entirely a good thing.
Here is one way to comment. https://t.co/WUSvesHNr1— Paul Bayes (@paulbayes) January 25, 2020
Reading
As @CofE ‘s newest bishop (though not in HoB) I was deeply saddened by the unpastoral tone of the HoB statement on civil partnerships. Cold. Legalistic. Loveless. Astonishing timing - mid LLF discussions. Please know that Bishops are not of a mind on this #sorry ☹️
— Olivia Graham (@LiviJGraham) January 26, 2020
