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 22/11/2024: LLF Working Groups continue: Update on membership and residential meeting
Working groups make progress on prayers, pastoral care, and ministry guidance. A new leaflet on next steps has been put together. Read more here and watch the video update from Bishop Martyn Snow, the lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith process:
Latest news
Ability to add a 'Prayers of Love and Faith' facilities tag to your church's A Church Near You page to enable visitors to find out which churches will be including the Prayers of Love and Faith in their regular public worship services. 'Facilities' tags tell site visitors more about the features and facilities of a church building or community, allowing them to search for a church which has a specific feature. Information on how to add this tag to a church site can be found in this editor help centre article here. If you are searching for a church offering Prayers of Love and Faith, use the A Church Near You website - search first for the location, and, once the results appear, type 'Prayers of Love and Faith' into the tag search bar (containing the text 'choir or disabled access'), click the tag option that appears, and then click 'find'. To search for tags on a mobile phone, you must scroll to the bottom of your location search results and click 'search again' to reveal the tag search bar.
An "Anglican way forward" for the blessing of same-sex relationships was agreed by General Synod, following a motion presented by the lead Bishop for the Living in Love and Faith process, Bishop Martyn Snow. A selection of readings and prayers of thanksgiving, dedication, and asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples – known as Prayers of Love and Faith, are already in use as part of regular services in some churches such as a Sunday eucharist or evensong. During the July meeting, General Synod has given agreement in principle to taking forward outline proposals for the wider use of prayers asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples in special - or standalone - church services. Acknowledging there was disagreement on all sides, Bishop Martyn was encouraged that, despite this, they all "want the best for the church". He added details on vocations, training, licensing, finance and other practicalities would be brought to Synod in February 2025. There is an indicative timetable for Prayers of Love and Faith in the paper itself (pages 15 and 16).
The membership of new LLF groups have been announced, including bishops and members of General Synod. The three working groups are looking at specific questions connected to implementation of the Prayers of Love and Faith, and the pastoral guidance and pastoral reassurance accompanying this. More information on the Church of England website.
The House of Bishops has now commended the Prayers of Love and Faith for use in regular public worship from Sunday 17 December. More information and pastoral guidance are available on the Church of England website. The prayers are offered as pastoral provision for those clergy and parishes who want to make use of them. If you have questions on the commentary and guidance, please direct these to your area team.
General Synod backs trial of special services asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples. Special services of prayer and dedication asking for God’s blessing for same-sex couples should be introduced soon in the Church of England on a trial basis, General Synod has agreed. Synod voted in favour of a motion containing an amendment tabled by the Bishop of Oxford to bring forward the standalone services based around texts known as Prayers of Love and Faith. The amended motion means that the services could be authorised for use sooner, but temporarily, under separate legislation. That would enable the first standalone Prayers of Love and Faith services to take place in churches at the same time as the process of seeking permanent authorisation is under way. Listen to Bishop Steven talking with BBC Radio 4 about the motion immediately following Synod, and a much longer interview with Premier Christian Radio that describes his own journey.
The prayers and readings in Prayers of Love and Faith for use with same-sex couples will be commended by the House of Bishops for use in public worship. Special standalone services set out in Prayers of Love and Faith will be brought to the General Synod to decide whether to authorise them under Canon B2, after consultation with dioceses. There is also further work under way to explore further forms of pastoral reassurance and formal structural pastoral provision to ensure the conscience of everyone is respected.
Commenting after the debate at General Synod, Bishop Steven said to the Guardian; “Same-sex couples will become much more visible and their relationships will be celebrated publicly and that, I think, will continue to change attitudes within the life of the church.” The amendment on marriage doctrine was “important to give some reassurance to those who are more conservative”, he said, but it would not stop the church “returning to this question [of same-sex marriage]” in the future. Read more on the Church of England website.
Bishops in the Church of England proposed prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God’s blessing for same-sex couples. Listen to Bishop Steven speak to BBC Radio 4's Today Programme after this announcement.
The listening process reports are published to over 6,000 responses that were received. The bishops attend two meetings during the autumn to discuss the reports and discern what they believe God is saying. Bishop Steven's essay, Together in Love and Faith, was published between the two meetings.
We encouraged parishes and deaneries to run the LLF course and engage with the LLF materials. The national Next Steps group gathered feedback from thousands of different groups across the country.
The Church of England published a landmark set of resources to aid discernment and decision-making on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. The resources draw together the bible, theology, science and history with powerful real-life stories designed to help every Christian explore questions in that area.
The four bishops of the Diocese of Oxford issued Clothe Yourselves with Love, a pastoral letter on the inclusion of and care for LGBTIQIA+ people within the diocese. Just over a year later, the diocese launched a chaplaincy service for LGBTQIA+ people and their families.
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.
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.
The LLF process has been a unique opportunity to play your part in the life and direction of the Church of England. It's about being open together to hearing what God is saying to the Church of England today.
Whilst the opportunity to contribute feedback has passed, you can still engage with the LLF materials. Start by asking your vicar or church leadership team whether they would consider running an LLF Course you can join. There are other resources available on the LLF Hub that you can go through yourself too.
You may also want to use the new PLF resources to pray with or for others, or you may wish to ask for these prayers of blessing for your relationship and family.
The Prayers of Love and Faith are resources and prayers for same-sex couples who love one another and who wish to give thanks for and mark that faith before God, because no provision was previously made for them through existing public forms of prayer. The PLF are not a form of marriage service, but they do seek to celebrate God’s gifts and grace in other forms of committed, faithful relationships, and to ask for God’s guidance and blessing as they seek to grow in love and faith.
The PLF can be used and adapted in different ways for different purposes. When prayer is offered informally in private pastoral situations, outside of acts of public worship, this is left to the discretion of the minister, as part of their discerning pastoral ministry. There are different forms of prayers that can also be used in public worship. This also provides for a range of pastoral responses for couples, individuals and the church communities they are part of. Guidance on the use of the PLF in public contexts stresses that the option to use or not use the PLF in this way should be part of a wider process of discernment involving the PCC (or other governing body). The guidance for the PLF also outlines how churches might prepare well for such a conversation and stresses the need to consider the variety of views and experiences that people may have.
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. They include prayers of dedication and thanksgiving; prayers for guidance, for companionship, for God’s blessing, and for the couple’s home and families. See the Church of England website for the Prayers of Love and Faith suite of resources and associated Pastoral Guidance.
The use of the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) will be at the discretion of individual clergy for private prayer and conversation, and in regular worship services. A ‘regular’ worship service means an existing service (eg a Eucharist or Evening Prayer) which is not structured around the prayers (eg PLF could be used as part of the prayers of intersession). Please read the Church of England’s Pastoral Guidance for use of the PLF.
It would be wise for incumbents wishing to use the PLF in public services to discuss this with their PCC and work within the tradition and sensitivities of their local context. Agreeing a simple policy on how the commended prayers would or would not be used will assist churches in being transparent in this area. Incumbents may also wish to involve congregations in discussion and feedback and use the LLF course or other resources.
Such a process would be one that exemplifies good practice, but ultimately the use of the commended material is the decision of the minister only; they cannot be pressurised into using material they are not comfortable with, nor can a PCC veto the use of the PLFs in this way.
Using the Prayers of Love and Faith in a standalone service is not currently possible, but 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, alongside the introduction of Pastoral Reassurance. Churches wishing to do so will need to register with their bishops.Some churches will want to offer such standalone services, others will choose not to.
These arrangements are being developed over the coming months along with updated guidance. An update on this work is expected in early 2025.
Churches can now add a Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) tag to their A Church Near You page to enable visitors to find out which churches will be including the PLF in their regular public worship services. 'Facilities' tags tell site visitors more about the features and facilities of a church building or community, allowing them to search for a church which has a specific feature.
If you are searching for a church offering PLF, use the A Church Near You website – search first for the location, and, once the results appear, type 'Prayers of Love and Faith' into the tag search bar (containing the text 'choir or disabled access'), click the tag option that appears, and then click 'find'. To search for tags on a mobile phone, you must scroll to the bottom of your location search results and click 'search again' to reveal the tag search bar.
No one will be compelled to use the prayers; choosing to use the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) is optional, and it is recognised some will not feel they are able to use the prayers if asked to do so by a same-sex couple. It is recommended that churches are transparent about their practice - whether they would offer private PLFs, PLFs as part of a regular service, in a standalone service (once this is possible), or not at all.
If a clergy member decides they do not want to offer PLFs, the response to anyone who asks for a PLF blessing should be first and foremost pastoral. It would seem reasonable to work with your deanery to point people to another church or clergy member who could offer this, pointing people in the direction of where enquirers can receive a blessing.
The bishops recognise that the use of the PLF is a matter of theological conscience and there is a deep and public commitment that this will be respected by the bishops and wider Church.
If you have any other questions, contact us at llf@oxford.anglican.org.
God, whose name is Love,
Whose gift is life,
Whose word holds all in being;
Bless Living in Love and Faith to your church
As we seek to grow together
Into the truth of our humanity and longings,
Into communities where all find welcome,
Into the fullness that is your image in us;
Through the Word made flesh,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.