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Andrew Goddard writes: There has been much heat surrounding the announcement of a new book on sexuality by Richard Hays and Christopher Hays. What follows attempts to shed some light on what is going on. After introducing Richard Hays and his major past contributions in this area, the range of instant responses are sketched as … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: In this article, I offer a summary of what happened at General Synod in February and its procedural consequences. I then look at the recently announced structures for taking LLF/PLF forward and set them out in the context of the past structures and a review of the past motions of General Synod. … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: This article seeks to make sense of the LLF process and what sort of story it might be. It does so in the light of some of the key new information about LLF to be found in answers to questions at General Synod yesterday, particularly those relating to legal advice and its … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: The question as to whether it would be right for the Pastoral Guidance to change the current teaching and discipline of the Church of England in relation to clergy (and in some places licensed lay ministers) is one of the challenging questions still left unresolved. The latest paper for General Synod (GS … Continue Reading
Summary: The new paper for February’s General Synod lifts the lid on much that has previously been kept under cover in terms of both significant decisions by bishops and the content of legal advice. What it reveals is not a pretty sight and brings to light the depths of the problems. Drawing on a fuller … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: In February’s General Synod, two of the divisive looming questions are: introducing standalone services for same sex couples experimentally using Canon B5A; and whether we should “reset” the LLF process. This article asks if, rather than polarise again around these two issues, an apparent consensus on the need for greater honesty and … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: The commendation of Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) as 2023 drew to a close marked a significant development in the life of the Church of England. Whatever one thinks of that step, multiple aspects of the process that led up to it were for me more concerning and revealing about the … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: In response to Nic Tall’s recent argument that CEEC and others have been “plotting the division of the Church of England”, this article: Offers an alternative personal perspective from within CEEC and a critique of the partial nature of his account. Argues that CEEC has in practice recently become more, not less, broad … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: Following General Synod, the House of Bishops has to decide (perhaps this Tuesday, 12th December) on two key matters relating to Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF): whether and when to commend the Suite of Prayers for use in regular services under Canon B5 and how to proceed with the “standalone services” that … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: After the February General Synod I presented quite a lengthy voting analysis. This offers a shorter reflection on what we can see from the now published voting sheets from November. What is obvious simply from comparing the votes on the final motions is that the vote was even closer and the Synod … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: The process of commendation of liturgy does not give any legal status to what is commended, and in the debates about the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) it has been claimed that law and doctrine are not being changed. To commend the Prayers of Love and Faith is thus to claim … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Adjunct Professor, Fuller Theological Seminary; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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