House of Bishops’ Amendments to General Synod Private Members’ Motions

These motions are set for debate on Wednesday morning and afternoon February 28

Lesbian and Gay Christians

The Bishop of Gloucester to move:

‘Leave out all the words after “this Synod” and insert the words:

“a. commend continuing efforts to prevent the diversity of opinion about human sexuality creating further division and impaired fellowship within the Church of England and the Anglican Communion;

b. recognise that such efforts would not be advanced by doing anything that could be perceived as the Church of England qualifying its commitment to the entirety of the relevant Lambeth Conference Resolutions - 1978:10; 1988:64; 1998:1.10; and

c. affirm that homosexual orientation is itself no bar to a faithful Christian life or to full participation in lay and ordained ministry in the Church”

Civil Partnerships

The Bishop of Liverpool to move

‘Leave out all words after ‘this Synod’ and insert the words

“ a. acknowledge the diversity of views within the Church of England on whether Parliament might better have addressed the injustices affecting persons of the same sex wishing to share a common life had it done so in a way that avoided creating a legal framework with many similarities to marriage;

b. recognise the House of Bishops’ Pastoral Statement as a balanced and sensitive attempt faithfully to apply the Church’s teaching to civil partnerships; and

c. note the intention of the House to keep the matter under review.”

Read more, including the original motions, on Anglican Mainstream.