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CoE: sex outside heterosexual marriage “falls short of God’s purpose for human beings”

Update from the bishops of the Diocese of Lincoln:

We hear, understand and share the concern that has been expressed relating to the Statement’s timing and tone. We both believe that the Statement as it stands has significant pastoral and missiological implications which clearly undermine the work of the Church today. We will bring all these concerns to the meeting of the College of Bishops in London from 29th – 30th January.

Last week the Church of England House of Bishops reaffirmed the church’s pastoral guidance on sex outside of heterosexual marriage.

As reported by The Guardian:

Bishops have issued pastoral guidance in response to the recent introduction to mixed-sex civil partnerships, which says: “For Christians, marriage – that is, the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows – remains the proper context for sexual activity.”

The church “seeks to uphold that standard” in its approach to civil partnerships, and “to affirm the value of committed, sexually abstinent friendships” within such partnerships.

It adds: “Sexual relationships outside heterosexual marriage are regarded as falling short of God’s purpose for human beings.”

The affirmation of traditional teaching at a time when the church is undergoing a major review of sexuality and marriage will delight conservatives.

The timing of the bishops’ statement has been questioned. The Church of England is in the midst of discussions of sexuality and marriage which are to conclude this year.

The Guardian reports:

In 2017, the C of E’s ruling body, the General Synod, narrowly threw out a bishops’ report that upheld traditional teaching on marriage.

In response, the two archbishops set up two working groups and four sub-groups to “help us understand better the issues and the points of conflict”.

The archbishops said a “radical new Christian inclusion in the church” was needed, founded in scripture, tradition and faith while also based on “a proper 21st-century understanding of being human and being sexual”.

The working groups are due to deliver a report, Living in Love and Faith, this year.

The newest bishop in the Church of England, Olivia Graham, tweeted:

Over 3,000 clergy to date have signed a letter opposing the bishops’ proclaimation.

This morning Kevin Holdsworth, Provost of Glasgow Cathedral, tweeted:

Reaction from other bishops in the Church of England:
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