Along with the rest of the Church of England, Christians in the Diocese of Salisbury have spent many months listening to each other, praying and discussing issues relating to gender, marriage, sexuality and relationships as part of a conversation and process known as ‘Living in Love and Faith’. (LLF)
At its February 2023 meeting, the Church of England’s General Synod, voted in favour of proposals from the bishops which would enable same-sex couples who have marked a significant stage of their relationship such as a civil marriage or civil partnership to come to church to give thanks, offer prayers of dedication to God and to receive God’s blessing.
The Prayers of Love and Faith have been commended to be used from Sunday 17 December 203. The final texts of Prayers of Love and Faith are commended for use in regular public worship or private prayer have been published, along with pastoral guidance which outlines how they could be used.
The Prayers can be used in regular scheduled services, such as a Sunday Eucharist or Evensong.
It is up to individual Clergy and Licensed Lay Ministers (LLMs) to decide if they will offer the prayers or not.
If you are a couple wishing to use the prayers at a church service in the diocese, contact the priest at your local church or the Bishop's office.
Read the Prayers of Love and Faith.
Read the Living in Love and Faith Pastoral Guidance.
What is happening at the moment?
LLF Working Groups continue: update on membership and residential meeting
Following the decision at July General Synod to develop proposals to introduce standalone services including Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) alongside pastoral reassurance, there will be continued input from four working groups into this process. The group membership includes bishops and members of General Synod, drawn from a wide range of backgrounds.
There are four working groups in total::
- 1.Prayers of Love and Faith – Guidance for registration and use including arrangements for use of the PLF in Standalone Services
- 2.Pastoral Reassurance – Code of Practice for Delegated Episcopal Ministry
- 3.Bishops’ Statement – Drafting group for an overarching rationale for a settlement around current and future practice for implementing the objectives of LLF
- 4.Ministry and Vocations Guidance –Development of guidance as part of the work to replace Issues in Human Sexuality (in parallel with decisions on a timetable to address questions around clergy in same sex marriage).
What happens next?
A progress update will be made to the February 2025 General Synod. It is hoped that this will include detailed - but draft - outlines of a Bishops’ Statement on the principles and commitments being made; the Code of Practice for Pastoral Reassurance and how this can be requested; updated Pastoral Guidance on the use of the PLF and an outline of the registration process for opting-in to using standalone services. Diocesan Synods and other networks will be invited to discuss and provide feedback on these fuller proposals for moving forward with the PLF and Pastoral Reassurance.
The synod of the Diocese of Salisbury will meet next year to discuss the proposals.