Whither the Church of England – London diocese an exemplar?

A recent blog by David Goodhew posted on Living Church, Whither the Church of England?, and re-posted on Thinking Anglicans, charted the Church of England’s declining trajectory in terms of numbers.

Goodhew reported that most C of E dioceses have seen a deep decline in attendance in recent decades and a handful of dioceses have suffered smaller, but still significant decline. Only one diocese, London, has grown. He argues that it is therefore essential that members of the C of E learn from the Diocese of London, respecting rather than criticising the elements (largely the HTB model) that have created this success measured by growth in numbers. A comment on Thinking Anglicans noted that Bishop Richard Chartres is identified as having helped this growth by engaging supportively with the charismatic evangelicals in London diocese. Another comment contrasted London diocese with Southwark and the different stances taken by bishops Chartres and Butler to the HTB plants and influence in their respective dioceses, the implication being that Southwark failed to grow because Tom Butler was less positive towards HTB plants than Richard Chartres.

People seemed to take as a given the idea that because the statistical evidence shows that London is the only diocese to record growth in numbers, then the London model must be applicable to the whole of England and should be universalised. It is essential, Goodhew wrote, that members of the Church of England, rather than ignoring or even resenting London’s trajectory of success (which is what other dioceses are inclined to do, maybe in a fit of pique), should learn from the London model and seek to replicate their success.

I would caution strongly against any idea that any other diocese should be encouraged to replicate the London model.

Thanks to Changing Attitude England’s strong links with the Diocese of London, we are learning from a variety of sources that it is the diocese with the highest reported level of systemic homophobia, abuse and prejudice against LGBTIQ+ people.

The most serious concern arises from London diocese’s grossly inadequate response to the coroner’s report following the inquest on the suicide of Fr Alan Griffin.

Changing Attitude is in receipt of reports from members of Holy Trinity Brompton and HTB plants that homophobia and abuse, including in some cases the practice of ‘reparative therapy’, is common in these congregations. Members who are openly gay or lesbian and are unapologetic about their identity are removed from positions of leadership.

There is no system in place within London diocese by which those experiencing homophobia or witnessing the homophobia and prejudice directed against LGBTIQ+ people can report this and know that they will be taken seriously. As with the findings of the IICSA report, systemically the diocese protects the reputation of the institution and of senior clergy and leaders within the diocese. There is no structure in place to call the bishops and senior office holders to account. Clergy in the diocese are not sufficiently alert to what is happening. They are not aware, do not realise what is happening, and don’t question critically whether reports of abuse and prejudice against LGBTIQ+ people are being dealt with. Parish clergy are not motivated to challenge the hierarchy, and even if they were, it is hard to see how they would gain traction. When individuals have spoken out, their voices have been suppressed by means of issuing a CDM (the Clergy Discipline Measure) or an NDA (non-disclosure agreement).

In addition, LGBTIQ+ clergy are complicit in the homophobic, abusive and prejudiced culture of the diocese. Knowing that they would likely be subjected to a CDM or NDA if they were to speak out, and because of their need to protect themselves, their future in the Church, their job security, home and family, they remain silent. The silence of some LGBTIQ+ clergy is amplified by their internalised prejudice and homophobia.

Many LGBTIQ+ clergy have had enough of this immoral, collusive, unhealthy culture, but lack the material resources that would enable them to leave.

Is this the kind of model diocese those who wish to arrest the decline in numbers in the Church of England wish to replicate elsewhere? London’s success thanks to the HTB model is inextricably linked with the shadow side of HTB teaching and practice.

In the next blog, I will look at the HTB model as described by Ed Shaw, a church pastor in Bristol and a leading member of the Living Out team. Ed’s book, praised by members of the Evangelical Alliance, the Church Society, Oak Hill Theological College and an evangelical bishop, demonstrating why caution is needed when we interpret signs of growth and success in the Church.