TWO of the Church of England’s largest pro-gay campaigning groups are to merge to create a unified voice in time for the debates on sexuality at the General Synod in February.
Changing Attitude, founded in 1995, and the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, founded in 1976, announced last week that they would join forces to set up an organisation, as yet unnamed, next month.
In a message to supporters, Changing Attitude’s national co-ordinator, Jeremy Timm, said that the trustees of both charities had decided that their cause would be better served by pooling their resources and working together.
The new group and its name will be launched formally at the Rainbow Awards, due to be held at the Houses of Parliament on 14 February.
The next session of the Synod begins on 13 February at Church House, Westminster. In December, the College of Bishops confirmed that it would update the Synod on how its discussions on sexuality had been going, besides consulting members of the Synod about their own views on the subject (News, 16 December).
Both the College and the House of Bishops discussed sexuality and same-sex marriage at meetings in September, November, and December. The topic is also on the agenda for this month’s meeting of the College (News, 23 September).
”A question I have often been asked is ‘Why are there so many organisations working in this area?’”, Mr Timm wrote. “In the discussions between our two organisations, it was very clear that there was much overlap in our aims and objectives, and that coming together would offer a far better and diligent use of resources, as we strive together in our campaign for full inclusion.”
Supporters who give money to the individual organisations need not make any changes yet, but should wait to hear about how the transition to a new organisation will take place.