This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 31 October 2018. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
31 Oct 2018 - Four bishops from one of the largest dioceses in the Church of England have written to 1,500 ministers setting out the bishops' expectations of inclusion and respect for all and announces a new LGBTI+ chaplaincy team. Silence is both painful and damaging for LGBTI+ people in the midst of continuing debate within the Church about human sexuality, say the bishops.
Their letter, sent to all clergy and LLMs in the Diocese of Oxford, sets expectations of inclusion and respect towards all and affirms LGBTI+ people called to roles of leadership and service in the church. The Oxford letter commends five principles for welcoming and honouring LGBTI+ people and looks at work underway in the Church of England to develop new pastoral guidance and teaching resources relating to human sexuality and same sex marriage. A new chaplaincy team for LGBTI+ people, their families and loved ones is promised too.
The chaplaincy team will also provide LGBTI+ insights and advice to clergy and bishops about being church together. The Oxford letter concludes with a commitment from the bishops to continue to listen well to LGBTI+ people from a variety of perspectives, 'including those seeking change in the Church of England's polity and those seeking to live faithfully within it'. The full text of the letter can be found on the Diocese of Oxford website at blogs. oxford. anglican. org/clothe-yourselves-with-love - ENDS -Notes to editors: For more information, or to arrange an interview with one of the four bishops, please contact Steven Buckley on 07824 906839 The Oxford letter was drafted with input from an advisory group of LGBTI+ Christians