Bishop Jonathan signs for “removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy….”

Gafcon IoW supports the Anglican Orthodox view
News
On All Saints Day, 1 November 2023 Thinking Anglican’s Simon Sarmiento reported on The Church Times article by Francis Martin which headlined: ‘Don’t delay guidance allowing priests to be in same-sex marriages, say 44 bishops

The Bishop of Portsmouth, Jonathan Frost along with 43 other Church of England Bishops made a public statement, ironically on All Saints Day, sharing their collegial aspiration that there would be no further delay on pastoral guidance being issued that would permit priests to be in same-sex marriages.

“We look forward to Guidance being issued without delay that includes the removal of all restrictions on clergy entering same-sex civil marriages, and on bishops ordaining and licensing such clergy as well as granting permissions to officiate.….”

The Church Times reported on 20 October 2023 that 12 bishops had publicly dissented to the House of Bishop’s statement in favour of reform i.e. commending prayers for same-sex couples.
On 4 November 2022 Bishop Steven Croft in a 52-page essay wrote that ‘many Christians in the Church of England hold and will continue to hold a traditional view of marriage and this should be honoured and respected by those who are seeking freedom to change. This is the majority view across the worldwide Anglican Communion at this time…’ and continues, ‘Clergy and parishes will need the freedom not to opt in to any new arrangements. Some clergy and parishes may need the oversight of bishops in the Church of England who hold to the traditional view.’ 

Gafcon IoW calls for prayer and support for the twelve Bishops who dissented (all saints), holding firmly to the Word of God and to the Orthodox Anglican view. They are:

The Bishop of Blackburn, Philip North
The Bishop of Chichester, Martin Warner
The Bishop of Ebbsfleet, Rob Munro
The Bishop of Guildford, Andrew Watson
The Bishop of Hereford, Richard Jackson
The Bishop of Islington, Ric Thorpe
The Bishop of Lancaster, Jill Duff
The Bishop of Oswestry, Paul Thomas
The Bishop of Rochester, Jonathan Gibbs
The Bishop of Sheffield, Pete Wilcox
The Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Paul Williams
The Bishop of Beverley, Stephen Race

The complete list of errant Bishops, including the Bishop of Portsmouth, who are departing from the Word of God regarding Holy Matrimony together with the full Thinking Anglican Article can be read in the Tab below.