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| C of E bishops refuse to change stance on gay marriage | C of E bishops refuse to change stance on gay marriage |
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| Church of England bishops have upheld traditional teaching that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, in a move that will frustrate campaigners for gay rights and risk further alienating the church from wider society. | Church of England bishops have upheld traditional teaching that marriage can only be between a man and a woman, in a move that will frustrate campaigners for gay rights and risk further alienating the church from wider society. |
| After two years of intense internal discussion involving clergy and laity – and at least two decades of bitter division within the church – the bishops have produced a report reaffirming that marriage is the lifelong union of one man and one woman. | |
| However, it says church law and guidance should be interpreted to provide “maximum freedom” for gay and lesbian people without a change of doctrine – meaning clergy will have some leeway in individual cases. | However, it says church law and guidance should be interpreted to provide “maximum freedom” for gay and lesbian people without a change of doctrine – meaning clergy will have some leeway in individual cases. |
| While calling for a “fresh tone and culture of welcome and support” for lesbians and gays, the report offers little in the way of concrete change. | While calling for a “fresh tone and culture of welcome and support” for lesbians and gays, the report offers little in the way of concrete change. |
| Bishops have met four times since last July when the two-year process of “shared conversations” on sexuality ended. Their report will be discussed at next month’s synod but no vote will be taken. | Bishops have met four times since last July when the two-year process of “shared conversations” on sexuality ended. Their report will be discussed at next month’s synod but no vote will be taken. |
| The report suggests that everyone seeking ordination or appointment as bishops should face questions about their lifestyle, irrespective of their personal sexual orientation. At the moment, gay ordinands and clergy are required to commit to celibacy even if they are in long-term relationships. | |
| The bishops also say the church needs to repent of homophobic attitudes of the past and stand against homophobia. | |
| The report says current advice to clergy, which allows them to provide informal prayers to same-sex couples in civil partnerships or marriages, should be clarified. However, it does not propose that church blessings should authorised. | The report says current advice to clergy, which allows them to provide informal prayers to same-sex couples in civil partnerships or marriages, should be clarified. However, it does not propose that church blessings should authorised. |
| The church said the report represented the consensus of opinion among bishops rather than a unanimous view. The bishops also stressed their report was part of a process rather than an attempt at a final resolution. | The church said the report represented the consensus of opinion among bishops rather than a unanimous view. The bishops also stressed their report was part of a process rather than an attempt at a final resolution. |
| Graham James, the bishop of Norwich, said when presenting the paper: “We hope the tone and register of this report will help to commend it, though we recognise it will be challenging reading for some. | Graham James, the bishop of Norwich, said when presenting the paper: “We hope the tone and register of this report will help to commend it, though we recognise it will be challenging reading for some. |
| “This is no last word on this subject. For there are very different views on same-sex relationships within the church, and within the house of bishops, mainly based on different understandings of how to read scripture.” |