Introduction from the Bishop of Lichfield
The need for churches to respond well to LGBT+ people in our congregations and communities is an important and live issue. In 2018 the four bishops of Lichfield Diocese sent a letter to all of our clergy calling for a Church where LGBT+ people feel welcomed and honoured. This caused much discussion and debate, and roused some strong feelings across the Diocese. Our desire is to empower churches to have good conversations within and between themselves about these matters, whatever their background or tradition. We want these conversations to move beyond polarising views, to bring people together as they seek the will of God, and to provide a safe space for all to grow as disciples of Jesus. This section of the website has been created to begin to provide resources from various perspectives to help us explore these issues together as we follow Christ in the footsteps of St Chad.
+Michael
The Church of England’s Living in Love and Faith teaching and learning resources, exploring questions of human identity, sexuality, relationships and marriage, shaped a listening process which many churches across our diocese engaged in. This led to the General Synod vote to bless people in same-sex relationships in February 2023. Read more about Living in Love and Faith in our diocese.
And there are further resources here.
Following the Synod vote in February 2023, Bishop Michael announced the establishment of a chaplaincy support team to provide a confidential safe space for listening, encouragement, spiritual and pastoral care, and to signpost to other opportunities for support. This pilot scheme is being made available for anyone in the diocese, both within the LGBT+ community and outside of it, who hold different convictions on this issue. Chaplains available include those from an ‘affirming perspective’ and an ‘orthodox perspective’:
Matt Edwards
Matt is available to offer chaplaincy support from an ‘affirming perspective’ to people across the diocese, signposting to other opportunities for support where needed. Matt is a Reader in the benefice of Barton-under-Needwood with Dunstall & Tatenhill in East Staffordshire, a member of General Synod and is well-connected to affirming groups within the Church. He can be contacted at lgbtchaplain@lichfield.anglican.org.
The Revd James Gandon
James is available to coordinate chaplaincy responses for those from an ‘orthodox perspective’, and has links to people who can support from a catholic and an evangelical background, both men and women. James has been the Vicar at St Andrew’s in Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, since 2017 and chairs the Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship. He can be contacted at james@standrewssneydgreen.com.