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UK News

Synod members reveal 'lack of confidence' over Church sexuality conversations

The 'Shared Conversations' came to an end at the Synod meeting in York earlier this month after local discussions at dioceses across England.

It was hoped the private debates would help each side of the issue better understand each other as the Church seeks to find a way forward on the issue of LGBT people.

There are 467 members of the General Synod. In a statement the group of 32 clergy and laity said they wanted to express their "lack of confidence in the process of the Shared Conversations".

The statement said: "Whatever their stated purposes, the outcome has not led to a greater confidence that the Church will be guided by the authoritative voice of the Scriptures, and its decisive shaping of traditional Anglican teaching, in any forthcoming discussions."

Synod members from dioceses across the country have signed including leading conservatives Andrea Minichiello Williams from Christian Concern and Susie Leafe from Reform.

A small group of people decided to boycott the shared conversations before they had started but it's understood most of the signatories had attended.

The Church of England had said the meetings exposed "deep convictions" and "profound differences" but participants left understanding each other better.

In a statement at the end of the two days of talks, the Church said General Synod members "have listened and been heard as they have reflected together on scripture and a changing culture in relation to their understanding of human sexuality".

The conversations were first held in every diocese across England involving 1,300 churchgoers. At the end of the Synod in York members were broken down into small groups before meeting in secrecy.

They were banned from using social media or talking to journalists about the content of the discussions.

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