THE BISHOP of Oxford has said that Church of England clergy should have the freedom to bless and marry same-sex couples.
The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft released a new essay on Friday, November 4, in which he explores how his views towards LGBTQ+ people have shifted.
In Living in Love and Faith, Bishop Stephen will explain how the Church of England’s anti-LGBTQ+ stance is “dislocating” it from the society it seeks to serve.
He also apologises that the Church has been slow to “reach better decisions and practice” and for the slowness of change in his own actions, and admits that these “have caused genuine hurt, disagreement, and pain.”
Now he is calling for Church of England clergy to be able to marry same-sex couples in church, and that they should themselves be able to marry somebody of the same sex.
This makes him the only serving diocesan bishop to call for the inclusion of same-sex couples into church marriages.
Currently, the Church of England does not permit same-sex couples to be married in the church.
Members of clergy are not explicitly prohibited from being in same-sex relationships, though it is on the understanding that they remain celibate.
In the essay, Bishop Stephen says that this in particular has caused harm to people who have had to hide or deny who they are, leading to “accumulated distress.”
The publication on Friday, November 4, follows a meeting by the College of Bishops earlier this week which saw a debate about how the issue of same-sex marriage should be decided at the General Synod, which is due to meet in February 2023.
He lays out four steps he believes the Church of England should take to carry this out.
The first is to enable the provision of public services of blessing for same-sex civil partnerships and marriages.
The second is to give the freedom of conscience to clergy and ordinands to order their relationships appropriately.
The third is to give freedom of conscience to clergy to enter into same-sex civil marriage, and lastly to remove the legal barriers to the solemnisation of same-sex marriage in the Church of England.
He acknowledges division among those in the Church of England and says that the recognition of the traditional view of marriage as a legitimate position must be also ensured.
Together in Love and Faith: Personal reflections and next steps for the Church is available via: store.oxford.anglican.org
