New prayer call for CofE as crunch vote looms

The Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC) is inviting churches, clergy and individuals across the UK to take part in a month of prayer for the CofE as another crunch vote looms.

The initiative coincides with the General Synod’s July meeting where Members are expected to debate a “significant” Private Member’s Motion (PMM) on marriage and sexual ethics.

Dunnett said: “Of course, the Church of England rightly always needs our prayer, but our national month of prayer in July will inevitably have some focus on the General Synod as it once again debates the divisive topic of marriage and sexual ethics.”

This motion, listed on the CofE’s website under “Current Private Member’s Motions” is titled “Same-sex relationships compatibility with Christian discipleship”. It reads: “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.’”

The CEEC has described the motion as “cleverly worded and designed to secure support for a revision of the Church of England’s sexual ethics, without explicitly asking for a change to Church of England doctrine.”