You may remember that this time last year we were bringing our ‘Living in Love and Faith’ term to a close. We had spent almost three months preaching through the Bible’s vision for marriage and sexuality. We ran a True Freedom Trust morning, and studied and prayed together in our homegroups. We worked together on the Living in Love and Faith course itself. As the period of consultation within the Church of England draws to a close, we are already seeing Bishops advocate for change in the Church’s teaching and pastoral on these matters.

Earlier this month, the Bishop of Oxford has published an essay in which he adds his voice to those calling for revision. You’ll have to buy the essay if you want to read it (which you can do here: https://www.oxford.anglican.org/ although there are a nmber of reviews online). You could (should!) also read Vaughn Roberts’ response (for free: https://www.oxforddef.co.uk/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=318841).

In the meantime, as we draw closer to Synod and the House of Bishops making recommendations, and decisions, I’ll be posting a number of Church of England Evaneglical Council contributions to the debate. It is unlikely that we at MIE will remain unaffected by this discussion in the national Church. At personal levels as well as at the level of our life together as a Church, we will likely find the months ahead painful and difficult to navigate. Please commit to praying for us as a Church, and particularly for our PCC as we chart our course in 2023.