It has been confirmed by the Business Committee that the July General Synod will debate the PMM proposed by Professor Helen King, which seeks to affirm the compatibility of intimate same sex relationships with Christian discipleship.

The controversial motion (in full below) is 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.

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.’

Private Members’ Motions function similarly to those in Parliament: once sufficient support is gathered, the Business Committee may schedule them for debate. While PMMs do not change doctrine or law, they can signal the theological and political ‘view’ of the Synod.

The last time General Synod expressed a view on marriage and sexual ethics in this way was in 1987. In that year, the ‘Higton Motion’ was passed by General Synod, which affirmed the Church’s traditional teaching on sexual ethics and marriage.

Revd John Dunnett, National Director, Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), said: “This motion matters. While it might be viewed by some as committing General Synod to ‘nothing in particular’, this motion shows that the revisionists will find new and different ways to continually push their agenda – away from Scripture, away from our Church’s doctrine and towards liberal change – even when the House of Bishops is not doing so. And were the motion to find support it could be seen as paving the way for further change.

“The big question is how the bishops and indeed the new Archbishop will respond. Will the Archbishop see it as an opportunity to allow Synod to express its mind, or would she prefer the process to be steered by the House of Bishops, and therefore encourage her colleagues to vote against the motion?”

Around the Communion, Dunnett cautions, the overwhelming response would be one of both sadness and despair.

“News of this motion will evoke a sad and negative response from across the Communion”, Dunnett concluded. “The Global South Fellowship of Anglicans and GAFCON would undoubtedly be concerned by the motion, and its passing would increase the impaired nature of relationships between the majority Anglican Communion and the Church of England.”

The Evangelical Group on General Synod (EGGS) will be working to defeat the motion in as an effective way as possible.

The February 2026 General Synod motion has committed the House of Bishops to forming a group which will carry forward the LLF trajectory – an initiative which could be of even greater threat to the apostolic understanding of marriage and sexual ethics upon which the Church of England has always been built.

]]> https://ceec.info/praying-for-sam-allberry/ Tue, 05 May 2026 17:25:29 +0000 https://ceec.info/?p=4908 Read more

The news comes less than a month after Bishop Andrew announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. On sharing his bleak prognosis with the wider diocese, he reassured them that he was “cheerfully persisting towards a good death”, and that his “faith in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, had only grown stronger”.

Bishop Julian Henderson, President, Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC), said:

“CEEC is deeply saddened by the news of Bishop Andrew Watson’s death.

“We give thanks for the life and ministry of our dear brother, Bishop Andrew, whose faithful service to the life of the Church of England, and to those he ministered to and shepherded, will leave a lasting mark. His leadership was marked by humility, wisdom, and a wholehearted commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“We pray for Beverly, their children, their friends and the whole diocese as they grieve his loss. We pray that the grace of God may prove sufficient for this time of grief and transition.”

Bishop Andrew was born in 1961 and grew up in Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. Andrew read law at Corpus Christi, Cambridge, returning in 1984 where he took a second degree in Theology whilst training for ordained ministry at Ridley Hall. He was ordained in the Diocese of Worcester in 1987 and served his curacy in Redditch. He subsequently moved to the Diocese of London, serving first in Notting Hill and then as vicar of St Stephen’s Twickenham.

In 2008, Andrew was appointed as Suffragan Bishop of Aston in the Diocese of Birmingham before his translation to Diocesan Bishop of Guildford in 2014.

In recent years, he has been a member of the Church of England Evangelical Council (CEEC).

Bishop Andrew is survived by his wife Beverly, four children and three grandchildren, as well as his mother and three siblings.

You can read the announcement on the Diocese of Guildford website and you can sign an online condolence book here.

Following a five-hour debate of a four-part motion, two new groups will be established which will be chaired by bishops and will be tasked with carrying the LLF work forwards. Both the Archbishop of York and the outgoing programme board made it clear that the cause must continue.

Rev John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said:

“​It is anticipated that the newly established groups will be pushed very hard by those wanting to pursue change to bring to the General Synod, as quickly as possible, some kind of proposal to amend the canons of the Church of England, so that clergy same-sex marriage will be a possibility.

“It’s also possible that the General Synod will find itself debating a motion, even as early as this July, exploring the proposal that intimate same-sex relationships are entirely compatible with Christian discipleship.”

Chelmsford Cathedral used the controversial Prayers of Love and Faith for the first time in a Sunday service on 16 November 2025. The Prayers of Love and Faith were commended for use in existing services by the House of Bishops in December 2023, although the legal basis and theological case for the Prayers has been repeatedly questioned.

Dunnett’s decision follows a letter sent in late November by CDEN to Bishop Guli and the Cathedral’s Dean, the Very Reverend Dr Jessica Martin, expressing “sadness and profound concern at the decision” to offer Prayers of Love and Faith at the Cathedral.

The letter, signed by more than 150 clergy and lay officers, outlined their concern that “this decision stands at odds with biblical (and Anglican) teaching on marriage and sexual ethics”. The signatories, comprising clergy, wardens, synod representatives and others, from the Diocese of Chelmsford said that the decision taken by the Dean and Chapter “leads us to feeling disenfranchised from the life and worship of the Cathedral” and called on them to reconsider their decision. Dean Jessica replied on 21 January to confirm that the decision will not be reconsidered or reversed.

Dunnett, who was made Honorary Canon by Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, while he was Bishop of Chelmsford, in 2020, explained:

“I have not taken the decision to resign from being an Honorary Canon lightly or enthusiastically. It has been a privilege to have carried this honour over the last few years. However, the Dean and Chapter’s decision to use the Prayers of Love and Faith at Chelmsford Cathedral has alienated many of us who hold to the historic and biblical Anglican doctrine.

“My fundamental objection, which is shared by members of CDEN, is that we believe the Prayers of Love and Faith to be endorsing something that is contrary to the teaching of the bible. We don’t consider that a commendation from the House of Bishops in this matter has any authority if it is at odds with Scripture.

“Because Dean Jessica has indicated that the decision will not be reconsidered, it would be impossible for me to retain the title with integrity.”

Dunnett confirms his ongoing commitment to the life of the wider diocese, as a worshipper and a giver, engaged with synods, and committed to the mission of the church within the diocese.

This meeting followed their previous one in October, where bishops acknowledged the theological and lawful impediments to clergy same sex marriage and standalone services (see our news article).

Rev Canon John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said: “Without wishing to sound negative, this rather sounds like an admission of ‘Groundhog Day’.  The tectonic divisions caused by LLF continue to rumble through the Church of England. General Synod, Diocesan Synods and parishes are experiencing it – sadly, it is now eroding the collegiality of the House of Bishops and their ability to lead.

“It is hard to imagine that taking more time is going to enable the bishops to square a circle.  Our hope and prayer is that the House will have the courage to attempt a different approach – to recognise the depth of division LLF has caused in the church, and either halt the project, or revisit CEEC’s proposals for the creation of differentiated ‘spaces’ within the church that will help secure orthodoxy for the future.”

 The House of Bishops will meet again in mid-January to decide on what will be taken to General Synod.

]]> https://ceec.info/ceec-launches-daily-advent-reflections-campaign/ Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:53:58 +0000 https://ceec.info/?p=4713 Read more

Launched in November 2023, the Ephesian Fund was created in response to the House of Bishops’ decision to depart from the Church’s historic and biblical teaching on marriage and sexual ethics, and to commend the Prayers of Love and Faith. The fund enables churches and individuals to direct their giving, including parish share, towards ministries that affirm an orthodox evangelical understanding of Christian doctrine.

The new films tell the stories of four churches that have opted to use the Ephesian Fund. They feature:
• Revd Madi Simpson, leading a church in a small market town in Cumbria
• Revd Santhosh Thomas, vicar of a young church in Wimbledon
• Revd Sally Baily, vicar of a multicultural congregation in West London
• Revd Ian Somasundram, serving a church in the North-East.

Speaking about the Ephesian Fund, Revd Canon John Dunnett, CEEC’s National Director and a Patron of the Ephesian Fund, said:
“The key thing we want churches to know is that the Ephesian Fund can work for any church in any context, and we hope these new films help to demonstrate that. Our hope and prayer is that the Ephesian Fund will give churches and individuals confidence that their giving is supporting orthodox evangelical ministry and advancing the gospel. We want to support churches who want to give in good conscience, and we believe the Ephesian Fund will help them do so.”

The House of Bishops reviewed documents produced by the Church of England’s Legal Office and the Faith and Order Commission (FAOC) addressing outstanding questions following General Synod decisions in 2023 and the commendation of the Prayers of Love and Faith (or PLF). These questions included how and whether bespoke/standalone services (where PLF would be used) could be introduced and the legality of clergy entering same sex marriages.

The update reports that legal advice regarding bespoke services indicates the need for a Canon B2 process involving two thirds majorities in the three houses of Synod at final approval.

With regard to clergy same sex marriage, the update notes the legal advice to the House of Bishops explaining that legislation would be needed to change the current position.  It reports that legislation would need to include a Measure (made by Synod and Parliament) as well as an amending Canon, both of which would require simple majorities in the three houses of Synod at final approval.

In response to the update, Revd Canon John Dunnett, National Director, CEEC, said:  “It is helpful that the House of Bishops has acknowledged the significant theological and legal impediments to standalone services and clergy same sex marriage. 

“At the same time, the update does not in any way indicate that the House has resolved not to progress things further or that no further change will be forthcoming. This therefore leaves many questions unanswered and concerns unresolved – whatever your view of Living in Love and Faith’’.

CEEC’s National Director, John Dunnett, will be attending the Living in Love and Faith working groups’ residential this weekend, alongside General Synod members from both orthodox and revisionist communities, where there will no doubt be reflections on the bishops’ statement.

CEEC will offer further comment next week.

]]> https://ceec.info/church-of-england-evangelical-council-responds-to-the-announcement-of-the-next-archbishop-of-canterbury/ Fri, 03 Oct 2025 09:38:07 +0000 https://ceec.info/?p=4606 Read more