Educate for LGBTI inclusion in the Church of England

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1 Educate for LGBTI inclusion in the Church of England The Bishops of the Church of England have reached a critical point in deciding for greater inclusion, but survey data suggests that their demographic makes them least well placed to represent the mind of the general population or people in the pews or to understand the significance for LGBTI people of the decision they are about to make. Meetings will take place in November, December and January which will determine the church s next policy steps. Please write to your bishop today with personal testimony that will help them to understand LGBTI experience and the views of allies to inform their decision-making so that it better represents the desires and thinking of those they serve. The Church of England is the State church in this country: you have a right to have a say. Background When Geoffrey Fisher spoke as Archbishop of Canterbury for the Church of England in the House of Lords in favour of the 1957 Wolfenden report that advocated decriminalisation of homosexuality, he was significantly ahead of public opinion in the UK, with limited decriminalisation in 1967 only being superseded by full decriminalisation by action of the European Court in The movement in a more conservative direction started with an international meeting of Anglican Bishops. In 1998, a vote asserted that faithfulness in marriage [should be] between a man and a woman in lifelong union, abstinence being required of those not married, whilst seeking to listen to the experience of LGBTI people and oppose homophobia. August 2003 saw the consecration of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire an openly gay and partnered priest in the Anglican Church in the USA, which many of those bishops saw as a threat. The Church of England has become increasingly polarised on the issue of human sexuality. The Church s leadership have been seeking a status quo, seeing the different advocates as factions to be held in tension, whilst many in the church have moved to be more inclusive, but have not been heard in the debate. The Church s overall position has become more conservative and out of step with society, failing to live out the love and wholeness of life it seeks to preach. The accessibility and inclusiveness of the Church for members of the normal population has suffered, with expectations of clergy that are increasingly at odds with UK society, 1

2 sending a strange message about the church s primary interests and its attitudes towards mature and independent adult life. In summary: Why write now? Windsor process 1991 Discussion document, Issues in human sexuality divides homosexual orientation from homosexual practice 2001 Those being selected for ordained ministry are required to commit to be sexually abstinent outside of heterosexual marriage, with Issues in human sexuality now given the status of church teaching 2005 Bishops concede that clergy are able to enter Civil partnerships, but require them to make a personal commitment to their bishop to remain abstinent, with the expectation that clergy unwilling to give this commitment will lose their license to minister 2010 The Church gains exemption from the 2010 Equalities act so that it can continue to discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics 2012 Church successfully lobbies government to include quadruple lock in same sex marriage legislation so that no priest can legally perform a samesex marriage and so that Church buildings can t be used for these services; ban on blessings for Civil Partnerships remains in place 2013 Clergy barred from same sex marriage, with disciplinary procedure seeking to remove licences from those who enter them Between 2003 and 2012, the Church of England formulated and then proposed a new contract agreement between church s across the Anglican Communion to prevent them modifying church teaching without consent from other national churches. The process of consultation took place internationally, but also went down to a regional level in this country before the proposals were rejected by the Church of England in Pilling From 2012 through to the end of 2013, a commission was set up to consider the Church s teaching on human sexuality again. The report acknowledged diversity of opinion, and presented this in great detail with a very variable basis in research, evidence or scholarly opinion. However, the report concluded that the Church of England should move allow priests who wanted to bless same-sex partnerships. In response, the Bishops of the Church of England re-asserted that marriage was an exclusive covenant relationship between a man and woman and set up a series of structured conversations for the Church of England. Some members of the Pilling group dissented vehemently from the report s findings and they were allowed to add and addendum asserting a conservative position. Conversations From 2013 to summer 2016 the Church of England has been engaged in a series of shared conversations which have taken place at every level of its governance structures. The conversations have not been presented as dialogue, or providing a safe space ; and they 2

3 have specifically not been intended to enable a change of position to take place in the church s understanding or teaching. The content of the conversations which have taken place with an expectation of privacy and confidence has not been gathered centrally or disseminated for wider use. Some participants report having found the process which relied upon a small number of selected participants as being helpful, others painful, challenging and unproductive. Bishops meetings in November 2016 to January 2017 a vital window for change It seems that it is in this term of the Churches government that the Bishops want to take forward some kind of process for the Church of England as a whole. All the active bishops in the Church of England met from September to consult on what they should do. Following the meeting a small reflection group was set up to advise the 42 senior bishops what the college of 120 bishops think as a whole and what the options are for a next step. There is now an intensive series of meetings between the bishops, with the senior bishops meeting from November to talk specifically about human sexuality; from December with then a further meeting of the wider group of bishops again on 23 rd January. It is expected that from this meeting will come a motion or legislation which will then come to the church s governing body for a decision. It seems that the bishops will make a decision as to what kind of change the church governance can vote on. What to write? The Church of England claims to serve the whole population, but its inward looking character, persisting prejudice and the demographic of its leadership means that it is not only excluding groups of people from its life, but that it fails to see how critical a problem this is. The views of the institutional church are no longer representative of its membership 1 : 1 3

4 A January 2016 YouGov poll of 6200 people found 45% of people who define themselves as Church of England approve of same-sex marriage, compared with 37% who believe it is wrong. A similar survey three years ago found almost the reverse: 38% of Anglicans in favour and 47% opposed. The lowest levels of support for same-sex marriage 24% were found among Anglican men over the age of 55, a group that dominates the church leadership. The survey found a clear generational difference among Church of England members, with almost three-quarters (72%) of under-35s in favour. There was a majority supporting same-sex marriage in all age groups under 55, but the figure dropped to fewer than one in three older Anglicans. Support was largely consistent across different regions of England. There was also minimal variation across social class. Church members in England are still lagging behind the general public, among whom a clear majority 56% support same-sex marriage, while 27% say they oppose it. Beyond this, Anglicans seem to have a particular blind spot for homophobia. As the data below shows 2, fewer than 20% of Anglicans think that the Church of England is unwelcoming to LGB people. Looking at YouGov survey results for those with no religion more than 40% of those think it is unwelcoming; only 20% believe it is welcoming. This has a very significant impact. Approximately one million children are educated in Church of England schools, with 15 million of the population having been to a CofE school. Whilst steps have been taken to resource Church of England schools to work against homophobia, the power of policy is weak when it comes from an institution that enacts homophobic discrimination in its practice. The Churches ambivalent and compromised position on human sexuality feeds and reenforces the tacit homophobia present in society, contributing to diminishment of life for many, when it could be promoting self-acceptance and challenging discrimination and prejudice. Teenager Lizzie Lowe in Manchester committed suicide at the age of 14 because she didn t know that her church would be accepting of her sexuality 3. Her parents belief that she would have received a wealth of love and acceptance had she come out highlights how important it is that the Church of England is pro-active and unambivalent in expressing LGBTI affirmation. It is vital at this time that bishops are educated in the experience, beliefs and conviction of normal people in the UK both LGBTI people and straight allies - so that

5 they take to their meetings from 22 November a better understanding of the personal impact of the Churches teaching and the value that could be added for the UK population as well as the Church by taking a more affirming and representative stance. Who to write to? Please write a personal letter to the senior Bishop for your region. To find that region your diocese - enter your postcode on the website below, A Church near you. The Diocese will either be given directly on that page, or on the page that comes up if you then click on your nearest parish. Then find the name and address of your regional bishop on the last six pages of this document. 5

6 Please consider: The aim of writing is to educate to give the bishops get a better understanding of LGBTI experience Talk about the liberation and well-being that comes with acceptance and affirmation; decide if you want to talk about the damaging impact of prejudice and how you see links with the churches position Give something of yourself in the letter: how does being LGBTI impact you in your context; what would you like from the church to engage with this or how would you like the church to add value to your life? Do say how you are disadvantaged by the churches present position or what its impact is on others Do send a hard copy letter you are more likely to receive a reply than if you ; your letter is more likely to be considered thoughtfully; and from a bishop you are likely to receive a reply Do ask a question that the bishop might be able to answer: for information on the churches policy and why it takes the position it does; for data on the impact of its teaching; for details of a place of worship that is affirming or where you might receive the churches offices Do send a copy of your letter to me at: bishops.letter.22nov@gmail.com so that we have an overview of the experiences shared and the arguments used Try to keep your letter to 1-2 sides of A4 paper Do write soon the bishops meet on 22 nd November! 6

7 Province of Canterbury Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Revd and Rt Hon Justin Portal WELBY PC Lambeth Palace, London SE1 7JU Telephone: (020) Bishop of Bath and Wells The Rt Revd Peter HANCOCK The Palace, Wells BA5 2PD Telephone: (01749) Fax: Bishop of Birmingham The Rt Revd David Andrew URQUHART Bishop's Croft, Old Church Road, Birmingham B17 0BG Telephone: Fax: Bishop of Bristol The Rt Revd Michael Arthur HILL Bishop's Office, 58A High Street, Winterbourne, Bristol BS36 1JQ Telephone: (01454) Bishop of Chelmsford The Rt Revd Stephen Geoffrey COTTRELL Bishop's Court, Main Road, Margaretting, Ingatestone CM4 0HD Telephone: (01277) Fax: Bishop of Chichester The Rt Revd Martin Clive WARNER The Palace, Chichester PO19 1PY Telephone: (01243) Fax: Bishop of Coventry The Rt Revd Christopher John COCKSWORTH The Bishop's House, 23 Davenport Road, Coventry CV5 6PW Telephone: (024) Fax:

8 Bishop of Derby Bishop of Ely Bishop of Exeter Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe Bishop of Gloucester Bishop of Guildford Bishop of Hereford Bishop of Leicester Bishop of Lichfield The Rt Revd Alastair Llewellyn John REDFERN The Bishop's House, 6 King Street, Duffield, Belper DE56 4EU Telephone: (01332) bishop@bishopofderby.org The Rt Revd Stephen David CONWAY The Bishop's House, The College, Ely CB7 4DW Telephone: (01353) Fax: bishop@ely.anglican.org The Rt Revd Robert Ronald ATWELL The Palace, Exeter EX1 1HY Telephone: (01392) Fax: bishop.of.exeter@exeter.anglican.org The Rt Revd Robert Neil INNES avenue Princesse Paola 15, 1410 Waterloo, Belgium Telephone: (0032) (2) bishop.europe@churchofengland.org The Rt Revd Rachel TREWEEK (née MONTGOMERY) Bishopscourt, Pitt Street, Gloucester GL1 2BQ Telephone: (01452) The Rt Revd Andrew John WATSON Willow Grange, Woking Road, Guildford GU4 7QS Telephone:(01483) The Rt Revd Richard Michael Cokayne FRITH The Bishop's House, The Palace, Hereford HR4 9BN Telephone: (01432) Fax: bishop@hereford.anglican.org The Rt Revd Martyn James SNOW 12 Springfield Road, Leicester LE2 3BD Telephone: The Rt Revd Michael Geoffrey IPGRAVE OBE Bishop's House, 22 The Close, Lichfield WS13 7LG 8

9 Bishop of Lincoln Bishop of London Bishop of Norwich Bishop of Oxford Bishop of Peterborough Bishop of Portsmouth Bishop of Rochester Telephone: (01543) Fax: The Rt Revd Christopher LOWSON The Old Palace, Lincoln LN2 1PU Telephone: (01522) The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Richard John Carew CHARTRES KCVO PC The Old Deanery, Dean's Court, London EC4V 5AA Telephone: (020) Fax: The Rt Revd Graham Richard JAMES The Bishop's House, Norwich NR3 1SB Telephone: (01603) Fax: The Rt Revd Steven John Lindsey CROFT Bishop's Office, Church House Oxford, Langford Locks, Kidlington OX5 1GF Telephone: (01865) The Rt Revd Donald Spargo ALLISTER Bishops Lodging, The Palace, Minster Precincts, Peterborough PE1 1YA Telephone: (01733) Fax: The Rt Revd Christopher Richard James FOSTER Bishopsgrove, 26 Osborn Road, Fareham PO16 7DQ Telephone: (01329) The Rt Revd James Henry LANGSTAFF 9

10 Bishop of Salisbury Bishop of Southwark Bishop of St Albans Bishop of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Bishop of Truro Bishop of Winchester Bishop of Worcester Bishopscourt, 24 St Margaret's Street, Rochester ME1 1TS Telephone: (01634) The Rt Revd Nicholas Roderick HOLTAM South Canonry, 71 The Close, Salisbury SP1 2ER Telephone: (01722) Fax: The Rt Revd Christopher Thomas James CHESSUN Bishop's House, 38 Tooting Bec Gardens, London SW16 1QZ Telephone: (020) , (020) Fax: The Rt Revd Alan Gregory Clayton SMITH Abbey Gate House, 4 Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans AL3 4HD Telephone: (01727) Fax: bishop@stalbans.anglican.org The Rt Revd Martin Alan SEELEY The Bishop's House, 4 Park Road, Ipswich IP1 3ST Telephone: (01473) bishop.martin@cofesuffolk.org The Rt Revd Timothy Martin THORNTON Lis Escop, Feock, Truro TR3 6QQ Telephone: (01872) Fax: bishop@truro.anglican.org The Rt Revd Timothy John DAKIN Wolvesey, Winchester SO23 9ND Telephone: (01962) Fax: bishop.tim@winchester.anglican.org The Rt Revd John Geoffrey INGE The Bishop's Office, The Old Palace, Deansway, Worcester WR1 2JE 10

11 Telephone: (01905) Fax: Province of York Archbishop of York The Most Revd and Rt Hon John Tucker Mugabi SENTAMU Bishopthorpe Palace, Bishopthorpe, York YO23 2GE Telephone: (01904) Fax: Bishop of Blackburn The Rt Revd Julian Tudor HENDERSON Bishop's House, Ribchester Road, Clayton le Dale, Blackburn BB1 9EF Telephone: (01254) Fax: Bishop of Carlisle The Rt Revd James William Scobie NEWCOME Bishop's House, Ambleside Road, Keswick CA12 4DD Telephone: (01768) Bishop of Chester The Rt Revd Peter Robert FORSTER Bishop's House, 1 Abbey Street, Chester CH1 2JD Telephone: (01244) Fax: bpchester@chester.anglican.org Bishop of Durham The Rt Revd Paul Roger BUTLER Auckland Castle, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NR Telephone: (01388) Fax: bishop.of.durham@durham.anglican.org Bishop of Liverpool The Rt Revd Paul BAYES Bishop's Lodge, Woolton Park, Liverpool L25 6DT Telephone: Fax: bishopslodge@liverpool.anglican.org Bishop of Leeds The Rt Revd Nicholas BAINES 11

12 Bishop of Manchester Bishop of Newcastle Bishop of Sheffield Bishop of Sodor and Man Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham Hollin House, Weetwood Avenue, Leeds LS16 5NG Telephone: The Rt Revd David Stuart WALKER Bishopscourt, Bury New Road, Salford M7 4LE Telephone: Fax: The Rt Revd Christine Elizabeth HARDMAN The Bishop's House, 29 Moor Road South, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1PA Telephone: See Vacant The Rt Revd Robert Mar Erskine PATERSON Thie yn Aspick, 4 The Falls, Tromode Road, Cronkbourne, Douglas, Isle of Man IM4 4PZ The Rt Revd Paul Gavin WILLIAMS Bishop's Manor, Bishop's Drive, Southwell NG25 0JR Telephone: (01636) bishop@southwell.anglican.org 12