In July this year, the Church of England could see the most significant Private Members Motion (PMM) on sex and marriage in the last 40 years being brought to General Synod.
The PMM in question reads as follows: “Same-sex relationships compatibility with Christian discipleship. Professor Helen King (Oxford) to move: ‘That this Synod affirm that there are no fundamental objections to being in a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship, and that such a relationship can be entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.’”
A PMM functions in a similar way to those used in Parliament. Any member of General Synod may table a motion, and if it gains enough signatures of support it can be considered for debate. While PMMs do not automatically change policy or doctrine, they can carry substantial symbolic and political weight by expressing the “mind” of Synod on a particular issue.
The ‘black hole’ at the centre of the Church of England
It is easy to think that the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) can is being perennially “kicked down the …