If you have any questions about the Living in Love and Faith process, or the use of Prayers of Love and Faith, please speak to your archdeacon or send an email to llf@oxford.anglican.org
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- What is Living in Love and Faith (LLF)?
- Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF)
- Together in Love and Faith: an essay from Bishop Steven
- LLF resources
- FAQs
Update Spring 2025: read the summary of progress on Living in Love and Faith, including a timeline to date, and draft approach for next steps.
Latest news
Comment from our Bishops and radical inclusion for everyone
Bishop Steven wrote to the diocese following the February 2023 General Synod to share his vision for a diocese where all are affirmed, where same-sex relationships can be celebrated and where those who hold the traditional view are honoured. You can also watch Bishop Steven giving a reflection on the Fathers' Love through the parable of the The Prodigal Son; a story of radical inclusion for everyone.
A listing of media comments from the bishops is available on the Together in Love and Faith page.
What is Living in Love and Faith (LLF)?
Christian teaching and learning about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage
Living in Love and Faith is the most extensive research into this area by any church, and was designed to enable a period of church-wide learning and engagement during 2021 and 2022. The materials are still available and we commend them to every church that wants to explore identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. In January 2023, the College of Bishops proposed allowing blessings for same-sex unions. The proposals, which would enable same-sex couples to come to church after a civil marriage or civil partnership to give thanks, dedicate their relationship to God and receive God’s blessing were welcomed by General Synod. Read the response from the Bishops of the Church of England about identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
In November 2023 Synod, the House of Bishops agreed to commend the Prayers of Love and Faith for use, and agreed to look into the possibility of the prayers being used at a special - or standalone - service, which General Synod at the July 2024 meeting agreed in principle to take forward.
Read the Spring 2025 Living in Love and Faith update.
Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF)
The Prayers of Love and Faith are offered as a resource in prayer with and for a same-sex couple who love one another and who wish to give thanks for and mark that faith before God. The texts are offered to express thanksgiving and hope, with prayer that those who are dedicating their life together to God may grow in faith, love and service as God’s blessing rests upon them. There are also prayers for Covenanted Friendships, for friends wishing ot express their mutual love and loyalty before God. These can now be used in private prayer, or as part of a regular existing service, for those who wish to use them.
Using the Prayers of Love and Faith in a standalone service has been agreed by the House of Bishops and General Synod, with an understanding that they do not constitute a change in doctrine. This will be possible before too long, but churches wishing to do so will need to register with their bishops.
See the Church of England website for the Prayers of Love and Faith suite of resources and the associated Pastoral Guidance.
Together in Love and Faith: an essay from Bishop Steven
We've been exploring questions around human sexuality for more than a decade. Now is the time to take the next steps, but how? A new essay from the Bishop of Oxford, Together in Love and Faith, was published on 4 November 2022 and received widespread media interest. Over 52 pages, Bishop Steven considers the most pressing question: the Church of England’s response to same-sex relationships. Sharing his personal journey from evangelical ministry in Yorkshire to serving Bishop of Oxford, and recounting poignant conversations with the LGBTQ+ community and conservative Christian groups, Bishop Steven offers reflections and practical suggestions on this challenging topic. Find out how to order your copy here.
Responses from church-wide engagement
As part of the church-wide engagement with the Living in Love and Faith resources, everyone who took part was invited to share their learning, insights, and reflections. Over 6,000 responses were received, through questionnaires, focus groups, creative responses, and a variety of other forms. These responses have been gathered into a report, Listening with Love and Faith. This is accompanied by a more detailed technical report, and a reflective essay, Friendship and the Body of Christ. These and the LLF resources will support the bishops in their ongoing discernment process as they seek to discern what they believe God is saying to the Church of England today.
Do get in touch if you wish to talk through or have any questions about the LLF process.
The LLF Resources
The LLF course materials are still available to use
The deadline for offering feedback has passed, but the LLF materials remain available to use. We believe the material is useful for churches to use to together discuss faith, marriage, sexuality, and gender. Those who haven't yet run the course can do so at a time that suits them. All course material is available for free when you register on the LLF hub. There are also printed copies of the course booklet which you can purchase from Church House Publishing.
We won't be running any more LLF Course Facilitator training sessions, but you can download the handy short guide to Facilitating Living in Love and Faith Groups. The LLF Advocates are also available to talk to you about facilitating a group or any other questions you have about running the LLF Course.
Introductory webinars
In June 2021 we hosted three introductory webinars to introduce LLF to the diocese. These events were attended by more than 400 people across the diocese and received excellent feedback from those who attended.
You can watch the presentations within these webinars by clicking the links below. The presenter was the Revd Dr Eeva John, the Church of England’s Enabling Officer for LLF.
Session 1: How can we learn well together
Session 2: Studying the Bible together
Session 3: Thinking about friendship
A comprehensive suite of LLF resources
- Living in Love and Faith book - amid the biblical, theological, historical and scientific exploration, each of the five parts includes encounters with real, contemporary disciples of Christ whose stories raise questions which ask us to discern where God is active in human lives. Order from Church House Publishing.
- A five-session course for small groups - including videos and a booklet to use. Order your free copy of the LLF Course booklet. For more copies, order packs of six or single copies from Church House Publishing.
- Living in Love and Faith learning hub - an online resource library of over 300 resources to draw from including story films, podcasts, and teaching resources. Log in/register for the LLF hub.
Other resources and information
- Clothe yourselves with love - The pastoral letter to the diocese that sets clear expectations of inclusion and respect towards LGBTI+ people.
- LGBTQIA+ Chaplaincy Service - The LGBTQIA+ chaplaincy service in the Diocese of Oxford offers listening, support and prayerful affirmation for LGBTQIA+ people, their families and friends.
- Resources for use with young people - Log in to the LLF Hub to find session notes to run the LLF course with young people.
It may not always be practical to run all five sessions of the course, so we've created a shorter session plan, or use this day session plan.
Although not officially part of the LLF resources, these materials for use with children, young people and families might be helpful. - Each session of the Living in Love and Faith course begins by looking at one of the Pastoral Principles for how the Church of England can live well together. The six Pastoral Principles can also be explored in their own five-session course or discussed using the cards.
- The Difference Course is a free five-session course which equips Christians to discover the power of reconciliation amidst conflict and division. It focuses on three habits that help us encounter others well and bridge divides: Be Curious; Be Present and Reimagine.
- Find out more behind the LLF project.
- The LLF Advocates Team has come to a close in an official manner, but please get in touch if you'd like support in facilitating LLF conversations in your context.
- For those who are happy using the Prayers of Love and Faith (using the full package or parts), Can I Use the Prayers of Love and Faith? is a Grove Booklet showing how to do so within the guidelines that the House of Bishops have set.