Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Race Excerpts

Thursday 22nd May 2025 Commons Chamber

The hon. Member for Battersea, representing the Church Commissioners, was asked—

[Steve Race (Exeter) (Lab)]

1. What steps the Church is taking to roll out stand-alone services to bless same-sex couples.

[The Second Church Estates Commissioner (Marsha De Cordova)]

A proposal to enable churches to opt in to the use of prayers of love and faith in stand-alone services is out for consultation and will come back to the House of Bishops in October.

[Steve Race]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the next Archbishop of Canterbury should be someone who can show leadership on this issue, both for congregants and clergy who would want to participate in such a service, and ensure that the Church of England finally treats LGBT Anglicans in Exeter and beyond equally within the church?

[Marsha De Cordova]

I am sure my hon. Friend will understand why I cannot comment on who the next Archbishop should be. The process is well under way, and I am sure that hon. Members will join me in holding them in prayer as they go about this important work. This issue affects many people, and people have deep feelings about it. If the House of Bishops approves the proposals to enable prayers of love and faith in stand-alone services, the business committee of the General Synod could timetable this issue for a debate in February 2026.