TOGETHER IN PRAYER
12 MAY 2024

Join with churches across the dioceses for a day of prayer for the Church of England

We are calling all churches across the dioceses to pray for the Church of England (regarding Living in Love and Faith) on Sunday 12 May in normal services/intercessions.

We are pleased to launch a set of resources to help ministers/lay people leading the prayers on 12 May. This includes:

  • A special prayer/collect for the day
  • Some suggested prayer pointers (bible verses to follow shortly)
  • Some advice on how to pray in a sensitive and non-political way (to follow shortly)

We do need to ask for God’s help in navigating this tough season. We do need to pray that the Lord will enable His perfect will to be done and His kingdom to be built.

Prayer Pointers

Prayer Pointers

A blue sky with white fluffy clouds

The Collect

Blurred photo of praying people in the church for abstract background

To help you in praying...

Prayer Pointers

  • Pray for the meetings of the three groups working to carry the Living in Love and Faith (LLF)/Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) work forwards
  • Pray for Bishop Martyn Snow and those working with him in preparing papers for the July Synod
  • Pray for the archbishops and bishops, as they lead and make final decisions at their May meeting
  • Pray for the Evangelical Group of the General Synod (EGGS) and their strategy as they prepare for the July Synod
  • Pray for the various bodies that are responding to this situation, the orthodox bishops’ group, the Alliance, CEEC and others
  • Pray for Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship (DEF) Chairs and Secretaries as they plan meetings and support one another and meet to pray together
  • Pray for lay and ordained church members who find themselves isolated in churches around the country because of their convictions
  • Pray for an outcome to the present deliberations that provides a secure, permanent and legal settlement for orthodox believers to remain in the CofE
  • Pray for your diocese, deanery and parish as they navigate the current challenges

The Collect

A blue sky with white fluffy clouds

Lord Jesus Christ, Head of Your church,

We acknowledge and accept Your authority to rule and direct the affairs of Your people through Your Word and by Your Holy Spirit.

We thank you for the gift of marriage as a sign of Your love for the church and as the proper and intended place for sexual intimacy.

We rejoice that in our Anglican inheritance this has been honoured and maintained.

We therefore pray that You will guide all those entrusted with making decisions in the current deliberations within the Church of England, and that the eventual outcome will bring You the glory You deserve and desire, for the honour of Your name and the good of Your church and all people,

Amen.

To help you in praying…

Blurred photo of praying people in the church for abstract background
  • Take care with the words you use so as not to upset or offend those who may hold differing views to you in your congregation
  • Ask yourself if this is a prayer that anyone could pray regardless of their views on LLF
  • In praying, be careful to avoid inadvertently accusing an individual of something
  • Pray simple, humble and general prayers for the process as a whole as well as for all the individuals involved in the three groups working with Bishop Martyn Snow.
  • Avoid overly specific prayers for the outcome of the process.
  • Pray for Bishop Martyn Snow and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, as they lead the work between now and General Synod.
  • Job 12:13

To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.

  • Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.

  • Philippians 4:6–7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus

  • Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

  • Hebrews 4:16

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.