In a stunning move widely seen as a victory for conservative Anglicans in the denomination, the Church of England has formally halted its proposals to advance same-sex blessings in the church.
During Thursday’s General Synod, they voted 252 to 132, with 21 abstentions, to cease all work after consensus between conservatives and liberals could not be reached.
Specifically, the Church will cease all work on the LLF process (Living in Love and Faith), which for the last six years(and at a cost of of more than $2M USD) has been seeking to find ways to allow clergy to bless same-sex couples in civil marriages.
More to the point, it has been the primary vehicle used by pink-haired and dapper progressives alike to create a new framework for acceptable sexual morality within the church. Under this framework, they sought to distinguish between same-sex marriages and “holy matrimony” where they could bless, appreciate, and offer prayers of thanksgiving to the former, without officially endorsing it
The work of LLF has been publicly supported by the highest levels of church leadership, including the current and former Archbishop of Canterbury.
During Synod, many pro-LGBTQ clergy spoke up and savaged the decision, including one who lamented the fact that she would now not be able to marry her 88-year-old lesbian partner. The archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, told the gathered throng:
“This is not where I want us to be and not where we hoped we would be three years ago … I know that many of you are feeling angry and disappointed. There is a lot of pain and that pain cuts across so called ‘party lines’ or theological convictions held.
(yet)knowing how divided we are on these issues, we haven’t been able to find further ways forward that honor the consciences of those who, faithfully led by their conscientious reading of scripture and their understanding of tradition and of lived human experience, arrive at different conclusions”.
While it is a set-back for progressives, the fact that this was even a question has demonstrated their commitment to their depravity and heresy, and already there are plans in place to redouble their efforts until the denomination is fully LGBTQ-affirming.
