THE Alliance network has been encouraging incumbents who are unhappy with the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process to make known their church’s willingness to withdraw from Church of England structures.
Behind the scenes, the Alliance — a network of church organisations opposed to the changes brought by the LLF process — has been encouraging incumbents to persuade their PCCs to pass a resolution stating that, if the Church of England moves forward with either stand-alone services or clergy same-sex marriage, the parish will take at least one of a set of actions. Those include: seeking “alternative episcopal oversight”, a decision to “reroute their diocesan financial contributions”, and moves to “encourage ordinands to participate in an orthodox vocations programme”.
A document, “Alliance Campaign Manual”, seen by the Church Times, encourages clergy to participate in a “Day of Action” on 1 December when they hope that “thousands of clergy and PCCs” will write to their diocesan bishops to inform them of their decision. “Church leaders who cannot agree decisions with PCC [sic] will be encouraged to write in a personal capacity,” the document says.
The document advises clergy to have one-to-one conversations with PCC members to get support for a resolution. “One-to-one conversations are crucial in ensuring a PCC has a productive discussion, moves towards a common mind and adopts the actions outlined above,” it says.
In a “majority progressive context . . . Prioritising one-to-one meetings with PCC members is probably the significant step,” the document continues.
“It may also be important for Incumbents to remind PCC members of their roles as Trustees — to represent the congregation and focus on the theology and mission of the church rather than personal experience and conviction,” the document says.
Ordination pathways have also become an area of contention in debates around LLF (News, 23 February 2024). The Alliance document recommends a “new orthodox vocations programme” that is being “piloted” by the diocese of Southwell & Nottingham “under” the diocesan Bishop, the Rt Revd Paul Williams.
Called ReadyToServe, the scheme is not a formal discernment process, but the Alliance commends it as an “opportunity that provides the space and inspiration for possible candidates to explore God’s calling to ordained ministry”.
In the General Synod, Bishop Williams has consistently voted against proposals brought under the LLF process. He has, however, distanced himself from the apparent appropriation of his diocese’s programme. A spokesperson for the diocese said: “The course is for everyone, and has no particular stance or angle. Bishop Paul has already pointed out to the Alliance that their description and recommendation is wholly unhelpful and misleading.”
THE Alliance came to public prominence in 2023 when a letter sent by the leaders of 11 C of E organisations to the College of Bishops was leaked to the Church Times (News, 7 July 2023). The signatories included the chairs of both the Catholic and Evangelical groups on the Synod, as well as the Vicar of Holy Trinity, Brompton, the Revd Archie Coates, and the church’s former vicar, and founder of the Alpha course, the Revd Nicky Gumbel.
The letter called for the Prayers of Love and Faith to undergo a Canon B2 process in the Synod. This requires a two-thirds majority in each of the Synod’s three Houses. This, to date, LLF proposals have failed to achieve.
Last year, in a further letter to bishops, the Alliance wrote that if stand-alone or “bespoke” services of blessing were allowed, it would have “no choice” but to establish a “de facto ‘parallel Province’” (News, 28 June 2024).
In November 2023, an amendment calling on the Bishops to consider a trial period for stand-alone services was carried by the Synod, but to date no such services have officially taken place (News, 15 November).
Another demand of those opposed to the LLF process is for structural provision for parishes and clergy which oppose the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples.
In February, the LLF lead bishop at the time, the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, said that the reassurance given by a model of shared episcopacy might be “enough to allow clergy to enter same-sex civil marriages”.
Bishop Snow stepped down as lead bishop in June, saying that, while he hoped that it “may yet be possible” to agree a “way forward in the Church of England on matters of sexuality, relationships, and marriage . . . I don’t think that can happen under my leadership” (News, 13 June).
