FRIDAY 29TH JANUARY 2016 SAME SEX MARRIAGE - CHURCH OF ENGLAND SUPPORTERS NOW OUTNUMBER OPPONENTS, WITH 3 OUT OF 4 YOUNGER ANGLICANS IN FAVOUR.

For the first time, more Church of England members support same sex marriage than oppose it, according to a new opinion poll. The figures also show a significant increase in support over the last three years; this despite the Church of England’s official stance against same sex marriage. The Poll, conducted earlier this month by YouGov, shows that of those surveyed 45% who class themselves as Church of England (and who live in England) believe same sex marriage is right and only 37% think it is wrong. This is taken from a representative sample of 6276 British adults of which 1523 are living in England and have a Church of England, Anglican or Episcopal affiliation. Support for same sex marriage is even higher amongst younger Anglicans, with at least half of those under 55s and a remarkable 72% of those aged 25 34 in clear agreement. Support is also high amongst Anglican women, with nearly half (49%) believing it is right. The lowest support rate is found in Anglican men over 55, where only one in four (24%) believe that it is right.

The results still show church members lagging behind the general public, where the majority of British respondents (56%) are in support, and number twice as many as those who oppose (27%).

The YouGov research surveyed attitudes amongst over 1500 Anglicans living in England and questioned over 6200 people in total across Great Britain. The results showed consistency across all regions with minimal variation in social class groupings. Three years ago a similar YouGov poll found far lower levels of support, with just 38% of Anglicans in support and 47% believing same-sex marriage to be wrong.

The 2016 poll was commissioned by Jayne Ozanne, a leading gay evangelical Anglican and member of General Synod (the Church of England’s parliament). She said that the high levels of support together with the significant shift in attitude over the last three years represented a major challenge for the Church’s hierarchy:

“These figures confirm what many of us have known for some time – that the Church of England leadership is seriously out of step with its members, and even more so with society at large. Far more Anglicans now believe that same-sex marriage is right than those who think it is wrong. It is therefore vital that we recognise the challenge that this represents to us as a Church, particularly given that as the established Church we are called to minister and serve the whole nation.”

She said that the rapid acceptance of the reality of same sex relationships and in particular same sex marriage meant that Church thinking had to change:

“What has surprised us all is that this change in attitude is so fast, and so uniform across the country. The data conclusively proves that the shift in attitude is towards acceptance, and whilst there is as we would anticipate generational differences – change is happening at a rapid rate amongst all age groups.”

She warned that unless it addressed this swiftly, the Church risked being marginalised:

“The Church now faces a major challenge to explain clearly to the nation just why it discriminates against people like me and others in the way that it does. What sort of “Good News” are we offering for those of us who want to get married, who believe it is right but find that the Church forbids it? With such a large proportion of society now in favour, the Church has some serious explaining to do - especially to the younger generation who find themselves repelled by a church which does not share their views.”

She concluded that the significant gender and age imbalance revealed by the poll highlighted some of the major problems facing the Church:

“It is deeply worrying that the one group that appears less open to change than any other is Anglican men over the age of 55, who are the least likely to approve of same-sex marriage. Unfortunately, this is exactly the profile of those in the senior positions of power and influence power within the Church. Anglican women on the other hand are far more accepting – with a far greater preference for believing same sex marriage to be right over those who see it as wrong.”

“The good news is that younger Anglicans (under 35) are so clearly in favour of same-sex marriage – they are nearly four times more likely to believe it is right than wrong – and it is therefore purely a matter of time before the Church calls into leadership a generation which is much more accepting.”

ENDS YOUGOV RESULTS For full results of 2016 poll amongst all respondents living within Great Britain: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/pwwbcqwbmx/Ja yneOzanne_Results_SameSexMarriage_160121_GB_Website.pdf

For full results of 2016 poll amongst all Anglicans living in England: https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/0zfi4z71we/Jayn eOzanne_Results_160121_Anglicans_Website.pdf

For full results of 2013 poll (see page 13 and 14): https://d25d2506sfb94s.cloudfront.net/cumulus_uploads/document/4vs1srt1h1/YGArchive-University-of-Lancaster-Faith-Matters-Debate-full-results-180613-website.pdf

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Jayne Ozanne [email protected]

NOTES 1.

The General Public are now twice as likely to believe same sex marriage is right than wrong, with a significant change in attitude over the past 3 years.

General Attitude to Same Sex Marriage 2016

56

2013

27

46

0%

37

20%

40% Right

2.

17

Wrong

60%

17

80%

100%

Don't Know

Amongst Anglicans living in England, support in 2016 for same-sex marriage is now far stronger than those who oppose it.

Anglican Attitudes to Same Sex Marriage 2016

43

2013

35

38

0%

18

47

20%

40% Right

Wrong

60% Don't Know

15

80%

100%

3.

Anglican men are far more likely to oppose same-sex marriage than their younger

counterparts.

Anglican women, on the other hand, are far more accepting. 2016 Anglican Men Over 55

2016 Anglican Men Under 35

14% 24%

13% 23%

Right

64%

Wrong

62%

Don't Know

Right

10% 14%

21% 76%

4.

Wrong

Don't Know

2016 Anglican Women Over 55

2016 Anglican Women Under 35

Right

Wrong

36%

43%

Right

Don't Know

Wrong

Don't Know

As anticipated, it is the older generation that are far more opposed to same-sex marriage, but they too are changing significantly over time.

2016 Average Age Prodfile 90 80 70

79

75

60

63

50

55

40

44

30

36

20 10

11 10

12 13

25

18 19

20

20

0 Under 25

25-34 Right

35 - 44 Wrong

45-54 Don't Know

55+

2013 Average Age Profile 70 60

65 59

50

58

40

46 37

30 20 10

22

16

27 19

17

12

15

0 18-24

25-39 Right

40-59 Wrong

Don't Know

60+