Our relationship with the Church of England
In line with the Biblical foundations of the Church of England, we want to ensure that God’s word is faithfully taught and lived out within St Pauls’ Banbury. We were disturbed by the majority decision of the House of Bishops in December 2023 to commend “Prayers of Love and Faith”. We are dismayed that our Oxford Bishops have been part of that majority, and that our diocesan Bishop has taken a lead regarding their implementation.
However, we give thanks to God for those bishops who have courageously dissented from the actions and false teaching of the House, including the Bishop of Ebbsfleet, and continue to look to him for spiritual oversight. We pray for all Bishops, but particularly ask God that those who are holding out the truth of the Bible might remain faithful shepherds of the people of Christ in their care.
In all that we do at St Paul’s, we want to reflect and celebrate the Lord Jesus Christ, who is full of grace and truth (John 1:14). We are therefore delighted to commend this video resource from the Church of England Evangelical Council “The Beautiful Story”.
We are also delighted to commend “Is God Anti-Gay?” by Sam Alberry as a short accessible book on some of these sorts of issues.
It considers Jesus’ teaching on sexuality and looks at issues relating to same-sex attraction in the Church, the world and the Bible.
“This short, readable book, now updated and expanded, answers the questions we all need to wrestle with and offers a positive and liberating way forward. Discover how the Christian message is good news for everyone whatever their sexuality.”
Order here from our Online Bookstall.
In light of the gravity of the situation the leadership of St Paul’s Church has taken the following actions so that it is understood where we stand. We aim to be a welcoming and loving community, reflecting God’s unconditional welcome and love in Christ. We hold out the good news of Jesus for all. At the same time, this PCC resolves to uphold Biblical orthodoxy by not permitting the Prayers of Love and Faith, commended by the House of Bishops in December 2023, to be used within St Paul’s Church and its associated congregations. Therefore we have made this statement:
St Paul’s Parochial Church Council – Statement with regard to Matters of Human Sexuality
The Parochial Church Council of Banbury St Paul endorse the Church of England’s statement of the orthodox biblical and historical understanding of marriage: “Holy Matrimony is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, blessed by God in creation and pointing to the love between Christ and the Church; a way of life which Christ makes holy. It is within marriage that sexual intimacy finds its proper place.” Any sexual practice not in line with this doctrine from Scripture requires repentance from sin as a matter of salvation. We recognize we are all sinners. We are fallible and vulnerable to sin, sexual or otherwise; we thus remain firmly committed to welcoming all people to St Paul’s to hear the gospel message of Jesus Christ and to respond individually in faith and true religion. In this way we seek both radical inclusion and radical holiness.
The PCC understands that although the decision not to use Prayers of Love and Faith [Synod: Nov 2023] is for our Incumbent to decide, we wish to state that we are wholeheartedly and by creed supportive of not using the commended Prayers of Love and Faith at St Paul’s. We believe this to be in line with the faithful, truthful and plain reading of Scripture.
On Monday 22nd January 2024 the St Paul’s PCC passed the following resolution:
On the basis of the statement above, the Parochial Church Council of Banbury St Paul, recognising the considerable hurt and divisions that this issue has caused, is resolved not to use the Prayers of Love and Faith, and requests the bishop to make suitable provision for our conscientious position with respect to any impaired fellowship that may result from their use elsewhere.
Dan McGowan and Steve Short