The report from the Living in Love and Faith process has now been published – Listening with Love and Faith.
Over 6,000 responses were received, through questionnaires, focus groups, creative responses and a variety of other forms. These responses have been gathered into a report, Listening with Love and Faith. This is accompanied by a more detailed technical report and a reflective essay entitled, Friendship and the Body of Christ. These and the LLF resources will support the bishops in their ongoing discernment process as they seek to discern what they believe God is saying to the Church of England today.
This programme of Christian teaching and learning about identity, sexuality, relationship and marriage was launched across the Church of England at the end of 2020. The programme invited us all to think about how questions about these issues fit within the bigger picture of the good news of Jesus Christ and what it means to live in love and faith together as a Church. It takes a new approach to a big issue by listening to the views of the whole Church, so the more people who participate and offer feedback, the more this aim will be fulfilled.
Introductory page on the Church of England website
The Living in Love and Faith Learning Hub
All national LLF resources can be found here
The purpose is to inspire people to think more deeply about what it means to be human and to live in love and faith with one another. Dealing with sensitive and complex questions of identity, relationships and sexuality, the resources offer a variety of ways to learn, reflect and pray together.
They are accessed by registering on the Hub, which is a very simple process, and you can then explore the resources for use with others in your parish or individually.
Resources include:
- The book – to explore online or download
- The course – to support small groups exploring the core questions – See section on The Course.
- Story films – a wide range of people describing in their own words how they are Living in Love and Faith
- Podcasts – round table discussions about LLF themes from the book
- LLF library – an extensive library of books, essays and articles to enable further exploration of any issues that grab your attention
- The Pastoral Principles for Living and Learning Well Together – can support any shared learning process but are very relevant to the LLF programme.
The course
If you are planning to run the course in your local area, please let Margaret Sheather know so that she has an overview of activity across the diocese.
National resources
This is the core LLF engagement activity proposed for use by the whole church. There are five 1½ hour sessions and the set of videos provides an accessible way for people to explore the key questions together. They are accompanied by a booklet, which can also be used separately as the basis for the course, or for personal reflection and study.
This section of the website also includes general guidance for group leaders/facilitators and specific guidance about helping to create a braver and safer space for learning well together.
All course leaders and participants are invited to complete a survey and/or send a creative response so that reactions and experiences are gathered from across the church to inform the next steps. The link to the survey is here online survey.
Free copies of the course booklet from the Department of Mission and Ministry via: ku.gr1731700608o.coi1731700608dsolg1731700608@nore1731700608macr1731700608
Taster event
During April Bishop Rachel hosted a ‘Living in Love and Faith’ (LLF) project taster event, led by Eeva John who is the Enabling Officer for the LLF process. It provided an opportunity to learn about the vision and purpose of the LLF project. You can view the recording below. To ensure privacy only key speakers have been shown in this video.
Living in Love and Faith Chaplaincy Team
Inevitably the issues brought to the fore by the discussions around Living in Love and Faith may impact the lives of ministers in ways that mean they would like a safe space to talk. The LLF Chaplaincy team has been created to fulfil this role. The views and positions of the chaplaincy team are diverse in order that anyone who feels the need of chaplaincy will know that they are safe. Offering a safe and confidential space for people aged over 18 within the Diocese those who seek help can be confident that they will be listened to with attentiveness and respect, be offered prayer and spiritual support a maximum of two one-hour sessions to each individual. For longer term support people will be signposted to wider resources and networks.
For more information contact Pauline Godfrey Lead LLF Chaplain ku.gr1731700608o.coi1731700608dsolg1731700608@yerf1731700608dogp1731700608 01452 835548
