Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Same-sex Relationships

Thursday 16 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The General Synod agreed to commend prayers of love and faith for use from mid-December and authorize special services of prayer and dedication for a trial period.
  • Ben Bradshaw thanked the hon. Member for conveying Parliament's views to the Synod and noted that there are a few who will never accept the outcome.
  • The Minister expressed regret over the difficult and painful period across the Church and hoped for a move forward in love, truth, and unity.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Religion & Faith
Context

The General Synod in February 2023 made decisions regarding the blessing of same-sex relationships and clergy in such relationships. The question addresses recent progress on implementing these decisions.

Question

What recent progress has been made on implementing the decisions taken by the General Synod in February 2023 on blessing same-sex relationships and relating to clergy in same-sex relationships?

Answer from Andrew Selous

This week the General Synod agreed that the prayers of love and faith, and the pastoral guidance for their use, will be commended for use from mid-December, and also that special services of prayer and dedication using the prayers of love and faith can be authorised for a trial period before full synodical authorisation.

Answered
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Q2 Ben Bradshaw Lab
Religion & Faith
Context

The General Synod has recently made decisions regarding same-sex relationships. Some parishes have stopped paying their diocesan share, effectively going on strike.

Question

I am sure the vast majority of Members on both sides of the House will warmly welcome the outcome of Synod yesterday, and I thank the hon. Member for the role he played in conveying Parliament's views to Synod. It was very clear during the debate that there are a small number who will never, ever accept LGBT people as equals in their churches. As he knows, some parishes have stopped paying their diocesan share—effectively going on strike. Why should they continue to enjoy the benefits and privileges of being Church of England parishes?

Answer from Andrew Selous

The payments by parishes to dioceses, often known as common fund or parish share, are voluntary payments towards the cost of ministry in those parishes and in the wider Church. It is a matter for dioceses how they work with their parishes to encourage them to contribute, but I would certainly very strongly encourage every church to make a fair contribution to the costs of their ministry and, where they can, to help others in poorer areas.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked why non-paying parishes should enjoy benefits, but the answer focused on encouraging contributions without addressing the specific issue raised.

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Q3 Peter Bottomley Con
Women & Equalities Religion & Faith
Context

The House welcomed movement towards equality and fairness, including on ordination and same-sex relationships. The MP asks for reflection on pain caused by resistance to change.

Question

I reinforce what the right hon. Member for Exeter (Mr Bradshaw) said about the general welcome in the House for the movement towards equality and fairness. We have had it on ordination; we now have it on same-sex relationships up to a point. Through my hon. Friend, I ask those who are disappointed with this movement forward to think of the pain that they have caused by resisting the change for so many people, whether by sex or orientation, over the past decades.

Answer from Andrew Selous

I am grateful, as always, to the Father of the House for his wise reflections on these matters. He is right that this has been a difficult and painful period across the Church. I very much regret that, as he does. I hope we can move forward together in love, truth and unity on these matters.

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