Andrew Foreshew-Cain

I can see the adverts now: ‘Come to the UK. We desperately need you to look after our vulnerable, to work long hours washing and feeding our elderly. We will pay you nowhere near enough money to live on and you must leave everyone you love behind.’

I have asked for & secured a meeting with @bishopSarahM in order to discuss the lack of progress & stalling in relation to the implementation of the will of @churchofengland @synod by the House of Bishops led by @JustinWelby & @CottrellStephen. Further we will discuss the utter lack of discipline that has been brought to bear @dioceseoflondon on the those who have decided to divert their Common Fund contributions from @dioceseoflondon to the ‘Ephesian Fund’ & sought the provision of self appointed ‘overseers’ as managed by the @ceecuk & the precedent that this sets for the entire @churchofengland Those of us, who share in Sarah’s ministry, who have had to pick up the broken pieces of #LGBTQIA+ lives shattered by the inhumane pastoral practices, of others who share in her ministry, in the diocese, need to be assured by Sarah that queer people are safe in her diocese & that her ministry is consistent in relation to safeguarding across theological traditions. At present that does not seem to be the case to many of us. As of yet that consistency has not become apparent & very little has been disseminated publicly into how the diocese intends to address the homophobia highlighted in the report into the death of Fr Alan Griffin, yet alone how we are to corporately respond to the decision of Synod to ‘lament & repent’ of homophobia. It is quite clear that not enough has been done to ensure that #LGBTQIA+ people are safe in the diocese. It is further clear that questions have been asked of her of the actions particular bishops which have failed to be answered. In particular @ric_thorpe & his influence on churches of the @HTBChurch network & @petespurs & his status as an @ceecuk ‘overseer’ & how that relates to their license to function as bishops for the diocese as a whole & in particular to those of us who are completely affirming of #LGBTQIA+ lives & loves. Given all of this I will be discussing with Sarah my intention to bring to our PCC a motion for the full withdrawal of all our common fund contributions to the diocese until such as time as she can ensure that no #LGBTQIA+ life is at risk from the pastoral work of anyone in the diocese who shares in her ministry. To pay any contribution to a diocese in which that is very evidently from my own pastoral ministry not the case at present would simply be morally irresponsible & anti-Christ & his affirmation of the fullness of life & the values of the just & peaceable Reign of God. I will also be seeking her assurances that neither @ric_thorpe or @petespurs will be taking part in any diocesan occasion @StPaulsLondon until such a time as a full independent investigation is brought to bear on allegations that she knows exists against one of them and until neither of them can say that they function within a special form of episcopal ministry created only by one section of the church. She needs now to justify in what sense either of them can function as bishops across the breadth of traditions in the diocese. I call on other clergy throughout the diocese & in other dioceses to ensure their own bishops’ full dedication to the complete physical & psychological safety of #LGBTQIA+ people within their care. I know that in a number of dioceses @inclusivechurch parishes have already indicated their refusal of the episcopal ministry in relation to confirmations of both diocesans & suffragan bishops who are known to espouse theologies & have ministries that have caused queer people actual harm. None of us should have to put up any longer with such episcopal ministry. What is sauce for the goose must also be sauce for the gander. We must get real. We must hear God’s call to choose life & to choose it in its fullness which we see expressed in the life, death & resurrection of the Christ.

The 11 survivors of church-related abuse who were awaiting reviews from the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB) when it was disbanded last year (News, 23 June 2023) say that they are no closer to receiving a review into their cases. churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2…