Changing Attitude resumes campaign for full equality of LGBTIQ+ people
Readers of this blog may be aware that for twenty years I was the Director of Changing Attitude England, part of an international network campaigning for LGBTIQ+ equality in the Anglican Communion. More recently, a small group has engaged with a number of English bishops known to be supportive of LGBTIQ+ people by writing two letters. We have decided to revive Changing Attitude England to actively campaign for the absolute equality of LGBTIQ+ people in the Church of England meaning equality for those in lay and ordained ministry in selection, training and appointments and also in relationships, civil partnerships, marriage and sexual activity.
This is a time-limited campaign leading to the General Synod meeting in November 2022 when the House of Bishops will present their analysis of the current phase of the Living in Love and Faith process.
In November 2020 to thirty two bishops known to be supportive of LGBTIQ+ people in the Church. We asked a number of questions, in the context of the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process:
Will you provide absolute assurance of proper safeguarding for LGBTIQ+ people who may wish to participate in the LLF process?
How can the LLF process be re-imagined to enable a process that is safe and constructive and will pave the way to a resolution to be brought to Synod in 2022?
Will you as individuals or as a group state publicly your support for a new, radical inclusion of LGBTIQ+ members of the Church of England?
Are you able to express public support for the full equality of LGBTIQ+ people in ministry and relationship in the Church of England including permitting those going forward to selection for ministry and for licensed Readers and clergy to marry same-sex partners, conduct same-sex marriages in church and bless marriages and civil partnerships with the same parameters applying to opposite sex marriages?
This was followed by a second letter in February 2021, this time to thirty six bishops. Eighteen bishops have replied and eighteen have not. The majority of those who replied wrote about LLF initiatives in their diocese. Very few of the eighteen who replied responded to our final two questions.
We have concluded that it is time to launch a public campaign to convince the bishops that nothing less than a commitment to the equal status of LGBTIQ+ people will be acceptable when the House of Bishops brings proposals to a meeting of the General Synod anticipated to be in November 2022.
We encourage people to participate in the LLF process so long as the risk to LGBTIQ+ people is recognised and effective mechanisms for protection are in place.
Two other organisations, EQUAL and Mosaic, share similar objectives. We have been in conversation with both groups and are agreed in our commitment to the same ultimate goal. Equal has a more narrow focus on marriage equality and Mosaic a broader, inclusive focus. Our strategies differ.
CA England is engaging directly with bishops because the LLF process was initiated by the House of Bishops and remains under their control. The House of Bishops will determine the nature of any proposals to be brought before Synod in November 2022. The bishops will control the outcome of the Synod debate, defeating any amendment or resolution that undermines their proposals by virtue of a vote by Houses.
We invite you to support the Changing Attitude England campaign for full LGBTIQ+ equality by joining our new Facebook group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/788874575387173