THE House of Bishops is to take more time finalising proposals on the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process, instead of formalising decisions that had been announced in October, it was decided on Tuesday.

The Bishops had been expected to formally approve decisions to subject proposals for stand-alone services of blessing for same-sex couples and the reconsideration of rules that bar the clergy from entering into same-sex civil marriages will be subject to further synodical processes (News, 17 October).

These decisions “were not contested” at a meeting at Lambeth Palace on Tuesday, a statement said, but the bishops “identified some areas where further clarification is needed and agreed to continue work on a letter to the Church summarising LLF and setting out an agreed position.”

The Archbishop of York said that the Bishops “recognise that having not set out a final decision today may add to the frustration and distress many people are feeling”, but said that it was “important we take proper care and time on this.”

In the build-up to the meeting, the Bishops had been urged by campaigners to not proceed with their previously announced plans (News, 12 December), including plea from the Deans of Bristol and St Edmundsbury (News, 15 December).

Tuesday’s statement said that the “Bishops recognised the deep hurt, particularly to LGBTQI+ people, as a result of those [earlier] decisions”.

The Bishops will meet again in January to finalise proposals to be brought to the General Synod in February.