General Synod

The General Synod February 2026 Living in Love and Faith Debate

The General Synod February 2026 Living in Love and Faith Debate

It is clear from the General Synod Living in Love and Faith debate and the voting figures that significant numbers of the Houses of Clergy and Laity do not trust the House of Bishops to do anything that will achieve the outcome worked for by progressives seeking LGBTQIA+ equality over the past 8 years, or 15 years, or 40 years. As bishops speaking in the debate revealed, maintaining the unity of the Church of England is a higher priority for the House of Bishops than achieving a radical new Christian inclusion for LGBTQIA+ people – inclusion that includes equal marriage for clergy and laity.

The Revd Robert Thompson’s speech for the Synod Living in Love and Faith debate

The Revd Robert Thompson’s speech for the Synod Living in Love and Faith debate

Robert Thompson, priest, friend and ally, has shared the speech he would have given in Thursday afternoon’s General Synod Living in Love and Faith debate at Church House, Westminster, had he been present and not at home recovering from eye surgery. He says it is perhaps fitting that he write now about sight — because the question before synod is whether the Church of England is willing to see clearly.

Frankly Gay - Why do Christians lie about sex and abuse?

Frankly Gay - Why do Christians lie about sex and abuse?

Some months ago I came across Sam Howson’s YouTube videos and his response to the news about Mike Pilavachi and his abusive activities in the Soul Survivor ministry. Sam’s latest video, Frankly Gay, is an interview with Robert Thompson, vicar of the parish of St Mary with All Souls Kilburn and St James West Hampstead, member of General Synod and a comrade in the business of campaigning for a transformed Church of England in which the Archbishops’ promise of radical new Christian inclusion means exactly that for LGBTQIA+ people – radical equality in marriage and in ministry.

Full equality in ministry and relationships for LGBTQIA+ people

Full equality in ministry and relationships for LGBTQIA+ people

Full equality in ministry and relationships for LGBTQIA+ people remains the only goal for those Christians living healthy spiritual and sexual lives in contemporary society, a society in which modelling non-abusive sexual intimacy within and outside marriage for heterosexuals is as important as achieving equality for LGBTQIA+ people. It’s time to table a motion proposing a total overhaul of the Church’s teaching on sex and marriage.

A Jesus Christ centred church, simpler, humbler, bolder – Yeah!

A Jesus Christ centred church, simpler, humbler, bolder – Yeah!

A Jesus Christ centred church, simpler, humbler, bolder – yeah, go for it, Stephen Cotterell. The Jesus Christ centred church that is simpler, humbler, bolder, isn’t remotely visible on the horizon yet. You and your comrades in the House of Bishops are lost in an almost impenetrable maze of scriptural authority, archaic traditions and invalid reasons that you are showing no signs of the vision and courage necessary to develop the church of your dreams.

The urgent need for movement

The urgent need for movement

Here I am, posting another blog dealing with the Church of England in crisis when I really want to be writing about the far more critical existential crisis going on moment, of which this week’s events are but one element. There needs to be a far, far more radical transformation of the life and culture of the Church of England, a movement developing in the root, seeing and feeling the essence of unconditional love.

Makin, substitutionary atonement and the distortion of homosexual desire

Makin, substitutionary atonement and the distortion of homosexual desire

The toxic culture of prejudice and abuse affected by public school pathology and an addiction to substitutionary atonement theology advocated by conservative evangelicals is not going to be overcome until the Church of England Synod and in particular the House of Bishops and the Archbishops’ Council are shaken into a radically changed attitude in their understanding, teaching, practice, liturgy, doctrine and corporate life leading to a dramatic change in C of E culture and teaching.

Changing Attitude – campaigning against the hostile, abusive, prejudiced and homophobic god of the CEEC

Changing Attitude – campaigning against the hostile, abusive, prejudiced and homophobic god of the CEEC

I haven’t lost my faith, but my trust in the experience of divine presence and love had been dramatically undermined by the relentless determination of conservative Christians to argue for belief in a God who, to me, is hostile, abusive, prejudiced and homophobic.