LLF Open letter

It takes courage to speak publicly to “nail your colours to the mast” when silence might feel safer. But silence has allowed repression and fear to take root for too long. We seek unity, but not at the expense of LGBTQ+ people who have been paying the cost of this for too long already.

The Living in Love and Faith process has shown that the majority of the Church of England, clergy and laity alike, now long for a Church where LGBTQ+ people are fully welcomed and celebrated. Many want to see their grandchildren able to be married in church, their trans family members affirmed, and their Church reflect the generous heart of God.

For too long, inclusive voices have been quiet or unheard, while others have claimed to speak for the whole Church. This letter changes that. It is a statement of courage, honesty, and love, from clergy and lay people together, to say: we have a voice, and we will use it. We speak as part of the Church that we love, even when it has fallen short of loving us.

All members of the Church of England who wish to show their support and add their name to the letter, are invited to click the ‘sign the letter’ button. Then, share the letter with others. You can also download a copy of the letter to share with your church.

We do not pretend the Church is of one mind. We believe that when there is doubt, we should err on the side of love. When we cannot all agree, we can still choose grace. And by grace, we trust that inclusion will always draw us closer to the heart of God.

When we act with hope, generosity, and faith, we make it harder for the Church to ignore the movement of the Spirit among us. Change is already happening, in parishes, in prayer, and in the hearts of God’s people. Join in, so we can make sure it cannot be ignored!

This letter is for members of the Church of England. Ecumenical colleagues and friends are warmly invited to show their support by sharing the letter and helping to ensure all who can sign are able to do so.

Open Letter from Members of the Church of England

We, the undersigned, are clergy and lay members of the Church of England, deeply disappointed by the recent decisions of the House of Bishops regarding the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF)[1] and by the continued absence of a clear pathway for clergy to enter same-sex marriages.

We affirm publicly that:

  1. We long for the Church of England to become a truly hospitable Church for LGBTQ+ people, where all may find authentic welcome, safety, and joy in the life of Christ’s Body.
  • We lament that, despite words of apology for the Church’s treatment of LGBTQ+ people,[2] those words have not yet been matched by our deeds.
  • We give thanks, and are grateful for, the witness and example of ecumenical partners and denominations with whom we work, who offer a full welcome to LGBTQ+ people, and who have seen the Gospel flourish as a result.
  • We commend the use of the Prayers of Love and Faith[3] in every context, as a step towards the equality we seek. We intend to use them in our own parishes and communities as a visible expression of God’s inclusive love. Where we are personally unable to do so, we will signpost to inclusive churches to ensure that this ministry is offered.
  • We will not withdraw our Parish Share, or other financial contributions, in protest. Instead, we choose to invest in the shared mission and ministry of our dioceses, believing that generosity, not punishment, reflects the character of Christ.
  • We commit ourselves to pray for the House of Bishops as they navigate these decisions, and for the healing and renewal of the whole Church as we continue to discern God’s call together.

Recent surveys and votes in General Synod have consistently shown that the majority of those within the Church of England now seek greater inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people[4].  It is not right that these voices remain unheard, nor that the Church continues to inflict the pain of exclusion and rejection on LGBTQ+ people, their friends, families and allies.

The Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process has received significant investment of time, money, prayer, theology and discernment. It has engaged deeply with scripture, tradition and reason, whilst seeking to also listen to lived experience. We do not support coercion or silencing of any view, but rather commit to open, honest and compassionate dialogue that honours individual conscience and fully hears the call to love one another as Christ has loved us.

We call on the House of Bishops to offer leadership and direction that honours the inclusive majority of the Church of England and truly values LGBTQ+ people. We speak now, not in defiance, but because we live in love and faith, believing that the Church is at her best when we love courageously and listen deeply. We stand together in faith, hope, and love trusting that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth.

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[1] https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/update-living-love-and-faith-october-2025

[2] Resolution of General Synod, February 2023 http://churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith/bishops-response-living-love-and-faith

[3] Prayers of Love and Faith http://churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2023-12/prayers-of-love-and-faith.pdf

[4] These include the Times survey of CofE clergy Aug 2023; survey of Anglicans including laity Feb 2023 and the Are You In survey from Inclusive Church in Autumn 2024.

Please check back to this page for updates on the Open Letter and further ideas and suggestions for things you can do locally, regionally and nationally to contribute to building and being a more inclusive church where all people are equally valued and affirmed.

While LLF is Church of England focussed, the work of Inclusive Church is much broader and we are proud of our increasing ecumenicalism.

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