PRESS RELEASE – January 13th 2016

SUPPORTERS OF “REPENTANCE LETTER” TO ARCHBISHOPS ARE URGED TO SIGN UP PRIVATELY IF THEY CANNOT DO SO OPENLY

As the total number of signatories to the letter calling for repentance for the way the Church has treated its LGBTI members around the world reaches over 4000, hesitant supporters are encouraged to sign up confidentially. The Open Letter to the Archbishops of Canterbury and York was sent on January 7th 2016 and originally signed by 105 Senior Anglicans. It was timed to coincide with the run up to the 2016 Primates meeting in Canterbury and sought to remind the Primates of their primary duty of care to their LGBTI brothers and sisters around the world. Since it was made public in the Sunday Times (Letters to Editor, 10/1/16), the letter has drawn significant interest from around the world – including South Africa, Bethlehem, El Salvador and Jamaica. Those in agreement with its contents have been invited to sign it retrospectively at www.lettertoarchbishops.wordpress.com. Signatories are invited to share their religious affiliation, denomination and position (if any) within the Church and can indicate whether they are happy for these categories to be made known. Speaking about the range of support for the letter, co-ordinator Jayne Ozanne – herself an openly gay evangelical Member of General Synod – said: “It is incredibly moving to see the level of support that the letter has created. From soldiers to church organists, from youth workers to grandparents and from retired bishops to prison chaplains, the letter appears to have touched a deep chord. There is a growing realisation that the Church has been the cause of much pain and suffering, and that instead of witnessing the power of Christ’s love to all, the Church has often been seen as a place of judgement and rejection. Yet Christ welcomes all.” She went on to explain why a decision had been taken to enable people to now sign the letter confidentially:

“Sadly not everyone is able to publicly add their signature to this letter. This is more often than not because they work within an organisation which may not agree with their views, or where to state them could compromise their impartiality on a work related matter. I give my word that people’s identities will be kept private and confidential – the important thing is to ensure a ground swell of support for the letter that will show the Primates the strength of feeling there is on this issue from around the world.” ENDS

NOTES 1.

The letter and its signatories is set out below, and can also be viewed at www.lettertoarchbishops.wordpress.com

2.

The general public, especially Anglicans, are being invited to sign the letter retrospectively

3.

Information on the January 2016 Primates Meeting and previous Primate Meetings

4.

The 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolutions on Human Sexuality

FOR MORE INFORMATION please contact Jayne Ozanne, Co-ordinator of the Letter and Member of General Synod Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 07543 667 493