Our journey so far
In October 2018 the four bishops of the Diocese of Oxford issued Clothe Yourselves with Love: a pastoral letter on the inclusion of and care for LGBTI+ people within the diocese. Just over a year later, the diocese launched a chaplaincy service for LGBTI+ people and their families.
In November last year, the Church of England published a landmark set of resources to aid discernment and decision-making on questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage. Living in Love and Faith is the most extensive research into this area by any church, and it’s designed to enable a period of church-wide learning and engagement to take place during 2021, after which there will be recommendations made for the future life and mission of the Church.
The resources draw together the bible, theology, science and history with powerful real-life stories designed to help every Christian explore questions of identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage.
In the Diocese of Oxford, we are encouraging parishes and deaneries to run the LLF course and to engage with the LLF materials between September and December. This timetable is to allow time for a proper focus on regathering after the lockdowns and, we hope, to enable the conversations to be face to face as well as online. The national Next Steps group will be gathering feedback from thousands of different groups across the country. This timetable will allow responses to be made as part of the national process.
Register for introductory webinar
Three webinars taking place in June are intended to introduce LLF to the diocese, and our team of LLF advocates will be arranging and leading further sessions for clergy and lay leaders, who will go on to facilitate the LLF course in the autumn.
Click a link below to register your attendance at one of the introductory webinars
- 16 June 17:00 – 20:00 – Dorchester and Reading Areas
- 30 June 09:00 – 12:00 – All areas
Register for LLF Course Facilitator training
If you are planning to facilitate the LLF Course with a local group in your parish/benefice or deanery, please register for this 3 hour training session for Course facilitators. You can run the Course locally without having done this training, but the sessions will help you think through how you are going to structure the materials and lead your local group.
Tues 13th July (9.30am – 12.30pm)
Tues 7th Sept (9.30am – 12.30pm)
There is a limit of 18 places available for each date. More training sessions in the autumn will be added if needed.
A comprehensive suite of LLF resources
- A book, available to order from Church House Publishing
- Story films and podcasts
- A five-session course for small groups, including videos and a booklet to use
- An online resource library of over 300 resources to draw from
Other links and useful information
- Clothe yourselves with love
The pastoral letter to the diocese that sets clear expectations of inclusion and respect towards LGBTI+ people. - LGBTI+ Chaplaincy Service
The LGBTI+ chaplaincy service in the Diocese of Oxford offers listening, support and prayerful affirmation for LGBTI+ people, their families and friends. - BBC interview with two members of the LLF working group
A radio interview with two of the members of the LLF working group – Revd Dr Andrew Goddard and Revd Canon Giles Goddard. - Living in Love and Faith learning hub
Films, podcasts and teaching resources can be found on this resource hub. - Order the LLF book from Church House Publishing
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. - Find out more behind the LLF project