Following the decision of General Synod on 15 November to press ahead with the Prayers of Love and Faith, without the promised pastoral guidance or structural pastoral provision, and without the legal advice to Bishops being shared with Synod, the clergy of Salisbury Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship wish to make the following statement.
As evangelical clergy in the Diocese of Salisbury,
- We affirm that we and our churches welcome anyone, including LGBT+ people; together we are invited by Jesus to come to Him and grow as His disciples.
- It has become clear that the Church of England is being led down a path that is contrary to scripture and the historic teaching and practice of the Church. We believe that the commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith is indicative of a change in the Church’s position.
- We are grateful to Bishop Stephen for his commitment to protect the consciences of evangelical clergy, and we hereby confirm that the signatories of this statement will not use the Prayers of Love and Faith in any context.
- We are encouraged by the 12 bishops publicly dissenting from the proposals brought to General Synod by the House of Bishops, and we note with sadness the disunity caused by attempts to change the practice and teaching of the Church of England.
- We look forward to the prospect of formal structural provision being made and to learning what this will look like in practice, in particular how orthodox oversight will be provided on a regional or other basis.
- The SDEF aligns itself with the Church of England Evangelical Council and with DEFs in other dioceses.
We affirm the Church of England’s teaching, expressed in Canon B30, that marriage is intended to be a lifelong exclusive commitment between one man and one woman, and we hold to the traditional view that sexual activity outside that context should give rise to repentance. - We believe there is no path of faithful Christian discipleship apart from either celibacy or marriage between a man and a woman.
- Where parts of the Church depart from historic Christian teaching, this will inevitably impair communion and impede fellowship, making fruitful partnership in the gospel hard to achieve. This is now a reality in this and other dioceses in the Church of England.
- We in the SDEF will support and encourage evangelical clergy and laity in prayer and practical ways. Please get in touch if we can help.
This statement is made by the following clergy (other clergy in Salisbury Diocese are invited to add their names by emailing the DEF Secretary Revd Matt Lee on matt@stjohnswimborne.org.uk)
Signatories:
Revd David Price, Vicar of St John’s, Heatherlands
Revd Arthur Botham, Retired
Revd Andy Bousfield, Vicar of St Mark’s, Salisbury & St Andrew’s, Laverstock
Revd Peter Breckwoldt, Vicar of St John’s, Wimborne
Revd Stuart Cocksedge, Priest in Charge of St Luke’s, Parkstone
Revd Andrew Corke, Retired
Revd Robert de Berry, Retired
Revd Jake Eggertsen, Rector of St James, Trowbridge
Revd Tim Greenslade, Team Rector of Melbury
Revd Canon Garry Guinness, Retired
Revd Dan Ingles, Team Vicar, Melbury Team
Revd Chris Jervis, Retired
Revd Matt Lee, Associate Minister of St John’s, Wimborne
Revd James Menzies, Team Rector of Weymouth Ridgway
Revd Malcolm Millard, Retired
Rev Peter Myres, Team Vicar to Canford Magna Parish
Revd Tony Oehring, Honorary Curate
Revd Sarah Pix, Leadership Enabler with CPAS
Revd Canon Craig Ryalls, Rector of St Paul’s, Salisbury
Revd Matt Simpson, Team Rector of the Lytchetts and Upton
Revd Mike Stear, Retired
Revd Canon Chris Tebbutt, Retired
Revd Charlie Thomson, Team Rector of Melksham
Revd Mike Tufnell, Team Rector of Canford Magna
Salisbury Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship 