LAY READER CAMPAIGN

Does the Church discriminate against LGBT people in Lay Ministry?

We had always assumed that the church will not ordain openly partnered LGBT people, but that we would be admitted to all lay ministries. The 1991 report Issues in Human Sexuality distinguished between ordained and lay people. Clergy ‘cannot claim the liberty to enter into sexually active homophile relationships’ because of ‘the distinctive nature of their calling, status and consecration’. The conscientious decision of those who are not clergy to enter into such a relationship must be respected and the Church must not ‘reject those who sincerely believe it is God’s call to them’.

During a discussion on the Changing Attitude email discussion list we discovered that a number of lay members of the group had been refused Readership training and other official positions because they admitted to being partnered.

Changing Attitude believes it is now important to get a better picture of how the church treats its openly partnered LGBT lay members.

Prompted by our discussion, a member of General Synod asked the question at the last General Synod meeting in July 2006:

Has the House considered how Issues in Human Sexuality, a discussion document – but which has been quoted as indicating the Church of England’s view on matters of human sexuality and which suggests that different types of lifestyle may be acceptable amongst the laity from that expected of clergy – is being applied in the selection of persons for training or licensing as Readers, which is a lay ministry?

She received the following answer:

No: Matters relating to the selection of Readers are principally for diocesan bishops who, in determining their selection criteria, would no doubt take account of the Synod’s 1987 motion and Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10 as well as Issues in Human Sexuality.

Informally, she discovered that the Bishop of Carlisle, as Chair of the Central Readers’ Council, is looking at the criteria which should apply to all who hold a Bishop’s licence or commission.

We are now trying to establish a fuller picture and have started to invite comments and stories from those who subscribe to the CA email discussion list. Some of us have experienced a truly appalling level of personal discrimination at all levels of church life, while others have been accepted by their congregations and have been welcomed into authorised lay ministry.

To be able to engage the church with the inconsistency of policy between dioceses and in contrast to the policy set out in Issues in Human Sexuality we are seeking to develop as full a picture as possible of current practice and experience in the Church of England. We are preparing a dossier summarising personal stories and experience.

• We invite LGBT lay readers and others to contribute their experience.

• Everything you tell us will be treated in confidence.

• We would like to invite you to contact us with your stories.

It would be helpful if you could be as detailed as possible so we can identify dioceses where the policy seems to be open/tolerant/encouraging and those where people have experienced problems, prejudice or refusal.

Changing Attitude’s research is being carried out by Erika Baker and Susan Strong. They can be contacted by email:

Erika Baker (ErikaBakerUK@aol.com)

Susan Strong (StrongSusan1@aol.com)

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Telephone 01380 724908
E-mail office@changingattitude.org

This page was last updated on Monday, 25 February 2008