The senior woman bishop of the Church of England, the Rt. Rev. Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, will celebrate at a Eucharist sponsored by the Inclusive Church as “a safe space” to LGBT worshipers.
The Rt Rev Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, will celebrate the ceremony set up by Inclusive Church, a LGBT-affirming network of Anglicans, the group reports. It is thought to be the first time a senior diocesan bishop has led an LGBT communion and prompted concern from conservative Anglicans.
A spokeswoman for the Gloucester Diocese confirmed Treweek would preside and said: “As part of Bishop Rachel’s ministry she celebrates the Eucharist in many churches across her diocese, to worship will fellow Christians who are all loved and valued by God.”
Simon Sarmiento, spokesman for Inclusive Church, said the regular services which are already held in the Manchester and Liverpool dioceses are about “reaching out to a group that largely feels people aren’t reaching out to them”.
He told Christian Today: “These things are not under the counter or peculiar in any way. It is purely a pastoral activity. It is all about safe spaces.”