A pastoral letter from the Bishop of Chichester delivered at the Diocesan Synod on Saturday 19 November 2005
Dear Friends in Christ,
From early December 2005 UK citizens of the same sex will be able to register civil partnerships. The new law and the government’s intentions have caused some confusion, not least for clergy and church members uncertain about the impact on the Church’s pastoral practice.
Most Christians will be disturbed by the unhelpful statement on the government official website that “wedding bells” can be ringing in time for Christmas. This confirms the suspicion that, despite official denials, the intention is that civil partnerships may be understood as “gay marriages”. This suspicion is reinforced by some aspects of the Civil Partnership Act itself, especially the reference to “prohibited degrees of relationship” (i.e. the legal restrictions on those who may marry), the provisions for dissolution and nullity and the failure to make the provision apply equally to partners of the opposite sex. These are among the causes of the Church’s unease.
In this context it is important to stress that the Church’s teaching and practice have not changed. The priest’s declaration at the beginning of the Solemnization of Matrimony in the Book of Common Prayer remains the standard of teaching about marriage in the Church of England and is enshrined in English law.
As well as being a relationship, marriage is also, for Christians, a sacramental sign of union. The law confers on such unions certain legal rights in terms of property, pensions and inheritance. These rights are, however, secondary to the nature of marriage itself and their denial to people who have committed themselves to share a home for mutual support and financial security has been a longstanding injustice. The Civil Partnership Act is a remedy for some victims of this injustice and, as such, should be partially welcomed by Christians. It is however a matter for great regret that our welcome has to be limited because of the circumstances described above. As the Roman Catholic Bishops in England and Wales have pointed out, responsible legislators should not in removing injustices endanger the place of marriage and family in society.
It is however important to recognize that civil partnerships are available to people whose relationships are entirely compatible with Christian principles. I pay tribute to those many unmarried friends who have set up Christian homes together and whose chaste lives testify, no less than do those of faithful married couples, to the importance of mutual support and affection in the Christian life. Single clergy are often in particular need of such support and I am grateful to those friends who encourage them and who often themselves make an invaluable contribution to parish life.
Civil partnerships according to the 2004 Act have none of the theological content of marriage and do not therefore necessarily imply any departure from Christian doctrine. In their general advice the House of Bishops (18k PDF) does not think it appropriate to collude with the fashionable tendency to consider every relationship as sexual in character. There are many situations in which a civil partnership may fall entirely within the teaching and expectations of the church.
Unfortunately, some aspects of the Act have fuelled anxiety. This has been exacerbated by some interpretations of it. I hope however that even those who are quite rightly anxious will feel able to welcome what is positive and especially the (partial) redressing of injustice to which I have referred. Expressions of concern about the appropriateness of civil partnerships should bear this in mind.
It will be lawful for clergy and laity alike to contract civil partnerships. The pastoral statement from the House of Bishops is in this context. The Church’s teaching has not changed. All Christians, ordained or not, should have their consciences formed by the Church’s teaching in this as in all other important matters.
The position of the Church of England on same sex relationships is set out in the 1987 resolution of the General Synod. The House of Bishops statement Issues in Human Sexuality (1991) and resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Conference offer weighty supplementary guidance. The more recent study guide Some Issues in Human Sexuality (2003) may also be found useful.
All Christians, married or single, should of course live chaste and faithful lives. This means, as a rule and a norm (allowing for the importance of conscience), that those not married will be celibate. It is important for us all to avoid scandal both in our behaviour and in our comments about the present situation.
At this point a distinction may be drawn between the expectations which fall on the clergy and laity respectively. While all Christians should live by and witness to the law of Christ, clergy have a particular responsibility because of their representative status and pastoral role. Thus, although clergy have the same legal rights as laypeople to avail themselves of the provisions of the law, I hope that any doing so will heed the consequences not only of publicity concerning their actions in their own parishes and in the wider church, but also of the fundamental obligations of their calling. Clergy must always be aware of the effect of their actions. Scripture and the Ordinal alike make clear that more will be asked of us as shepherds of the flock, both in our life now and on the Day of Judgment. Clergy who are considering entering civil partnership should weigh carefully the implications of their action, and how it will be perceived both by other Christians and by society at large.
There are some particular areas about which there should be no ambiguity.
While the Church should always give thanks to God for the gift of holy friendship, “clergy of the Church of England should not provide services of blessing for those who register a civil partnership” (House of Bishops guidance para. 17)
This does not however excuse the clergy from their pastoral duty to support and encourage those who are in a variety of ways seeking to conform their lives to the pattern of Christ’s holiness.
Similarly, while all should honour the way of life commended in the gospel, the clergy have a particular duty to witness to the Church’s teaching. I cannot and will not commend or defend any unmarried cleric living a non-celibate life or any married cleric living an adulterous relationship.
It should however also be recognised that clergy no less than laity have a right to have their privacy respected. Bishops have a duty to defend that right, not just as an abstract principle, but also in respect of those in civil partnerships who seek to live within the teaching of the church.
The House of Bishops’ advice about the “assurances” that may be sought of those entering civil partnerships has been seriously misinterpreted. In accordance with traditional practice, I do not intend that in this diocese there should be unreasonable questioning of either clergy or lay people about their personal attitudes or behaviour. This must not be misunderstood. The suggestion that lay people should not be asked for “assurances” in no way detracts from the pastoral responsibility of the clergy to guide those in their pastoral care in obedience to Christ and holiness of life. I am glad therefore of the opportunity to remind the clergy of their duty in this regard. Furthermore, I will expect those who advise me and the area bishops to assure us that candidates for holy orders in the diocese understand and accept what it means to “model their life and that of their household according to the mind of Christ.”
This letter is written at a time of great tension in the Church. I hope that all members of the Diocese of Chichester will remember their overriding obligation of charity. This should include a willingness to think the best rather than the worst of each other. These issues touch the heart both of the gospel and of our personal identity and integrity. May God give us all both mercy and firmness as we seek to be faithful to his will.