Survey of Church Attitudes to LGBT People/Relationships
Phase One: Anglican Churches in Brighton and Hove
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Notes:
a) Most churches simply identified one of the four boxes across the spectrum:
Category 1. affirming – positive visible inclusion
Category 2. accepting – implicit inclusion
Category 3. tolerating – traditional teaching but open
Category 4. disapproving - ‘incompatible with Scripture’

b) Some churches added comments – these are reproduced under the church name.

c) Churches which did not identify themselves with one of the four boxes have been assigned to a category by the survey team on the basis of comments received from the incumbents. The box number for these churches is shown in brackets, and the rationale for the assignation is shown underneath.


BRIGHTON DEANERY

B01 St Peter (3)
Church comments: Thank you for all you are doing to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people to worship in Brighton and Hove. Thank you for all you do in highlighting the issues and enabling all people to feel welcome and included in our churches. While of course we are encouraging LGBT people to feel at home at St Peter’s, and I hope they do, I am sure you will understand that it is a little tricky for us to complete the survey you sent. I have only been here a year and so I am on a steep learning curve, but as time goes on, it is ever clearer to me, that there are a huge range of beliefs and approaches taken among those who come to St Peter’s, I’m sure reflecting each of the four categories. I don’t feel, therefore, that I can possibly speak on behalf of the whole church, by putting us all into one or another category. All I know is that we are doing our very best to be an inclusive church, making people feel at home here whatever their views, and if I were to try and define our church in terms of one or other of the four categories, I would risk alienating members of the congregation, and I would hate to make any feel uncomfortable or unwelcome simply because of that they believe. I know how important and sensitive this issue is and I do hope you understand and forgive me for not being more helpful.
Survey team analysis: The text indicates that the church is not in category 1. In a subsequent follow up discussion the incumbent commented ‘we believe that the biblical and Anglican understanding of sexual practice is that it is for marriage only’ which suggests category 4. However there is a reported range of opinion, an openness and a positive willingness to dialogue, and therefore the church is assigned to category 3.

B02 The Annunciation 1

B04 St Bartholomew 2

B05 St George with St Anne and St Mark 1

B06 St Mary the Virgin, Kemptown 1

B07 St Cuthman, Whitehawk 3
It is good that people’s views on these issues should be out in the open, without any recriminations on either side. It was, however, difficult to find a category where St Cuthman’s exactly fits. Number 4 seemed far too harsh and forbidding, so we chose number 3. We would say that in all things we try to follow the teaching of Scripture, in the sense that the Church has always understood it; that we welcome everyone to worship with us. If anyone declares themselves to be homosexual we tell them that they ought to know the views of the Church leadership on the subject. A few years ago a homosexual man became a Church warden – but if he had been in a relationship I am sure that he would not have been elected.

B08 St Matthias 1

B09 St Michael and All Angels 2
We make it explicit on porch and other notices in and around the church, as in leaflets sent around the parish and to the congregation, that, as an ‘inclusive church’, all people are warmly welcomed to worship and to be involved in the life of St Michael’s irrespective of sexual orientation. Such conscious inclusion has been very appreciatively comment on by LGBT people. We hold an annual World AIDS Day Requiem, and our Community Hall is available to all and is used by LGBT groups, and choirs from their number sometimes hold concerts in church.

B10 St Paul 2
We make it explicit on porch and other notices in and around the church that, as an inclusive church all people are warmly welcomed to worship and be involved in the life of St Paul’s, irrespective of sexual orientation.

B11 The Good Shepherd, Preston (2)
Church comments: Occasionally at our PCC meetings we have discussed issues you speak about in your survey. We believe, in fact, that there are a number of gay people in our regular congregation but do not identify them or treat them in any different way from non gays. Ours is very open and inclusive church, for that reason we felt the survey was not an urgent item to be discussed by the PCC.
Survey team analysis: The church was a non-responder, and the above comments were included in a response to a follow up email. The statement is broadly positive and supportive of LGBT people although not fully affirming. Therefore the church was assigned to category 2.

B12 St Martin and St Wilfrid with St Alban (2)
Church comments: Everybody of whatever proclivity or orientation is entitled to worship God in any of the churches for which I am responsible. What it seems that every church needs to be without putting it on its notice board in any sense whatever while sending subtle signals supposedly in the process is inclusive. All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and whether or not you think that homosexuality is a sin everybody, whatever their sexual orientation comes under that benchmarking – gay, straight, disinterested whatever.
Survey team analysis: The church did not respond and this text was written in response to a follow up email. By questioning whether homosexuality is a sin it appears to reject categories 3 and 4, whilst at the same time being less than affirming. The church was therefore assigned to category 2.

B13 St Andrew, Moulsecoomb 2
It is not really an issue here, and it’s just an ordinary accepted part of life. In fact when the boyfriend of one of our church members died recently, members of the congregation were quite upset, fully realising that he had lost a life partner.

St Mary Magdalene, Coldean 2

B14 St Wulfran, Ovingdean new incumbent – response will follow

B15 All Saints, Patcham (3)
Church comments: On receipt of the questionnaire I felt that I was in two dilemmas! On the one hand I didn’t feel that I could personally and unilaterally respond and, in doing so, express the view of All Saints as a Christian community and church, recognising that we have a mix of people with a range of views on any matter! On the other hand, while acknowledging that the four possible choices had undoubtedly been expressed with very great care and forethought, I found it hard, even after several readings, to identify among the four a response that I felt fully expressed my own feelings on the matter as my feelings now are, they having developed over a period of time and in the light of further thought, reflection, and various experiences and encounters. How I chose to handle it, therefore, was to write to the members of my DCC, as attached, asking each one to independently come to a view.
Survey team analysis: The incumbent reported that his DCC responded as follows: 20% box 4, 70% box 3, 10% box 1, revealing a clear majority for category 3.

B17 St John, Preston 1

B18 St Luke, Prestonville PCC meeting pending

B19 St Margaret, Rottingdean 2
Whilst I have ticked the box most appropriate for our parish, I would want to add the caveat that the gay members of the PCC are anxious that we do not stereotype gay people – I have ticked the box because whether anyone is gay or not is not actually an issue at St Margaret’s. I personally look forward to the day when we can celebrate same-sex marriages in our church.

B20 St Nicholas, Saltdean 2
We only ticked box 2 because box 1 is not a reality, but a hoped for prayer for the future. We would be willing to register with Changing Attitude, and make a public declaration but we have not done it yet, but we see no reason not to.

B21 St Laurence, Stanmer with Falmer 2

B22 Holy Cross, Woodingdean (2)
Church comments: As to Holy Cross, I think it would be fair to say that some of our more elderly folk do have issues and they will never be resolved. However, under my watch I have tried to ensure that everyone is welcome here. No one is made to feel uncomfortable because of their gender or sexuality. As long as visitors or regular attendees behave in a seemly manner in church that is all we ask.
Survey team analysis: The text suggests the incumbent is endeavouring to lead the congregation towards an acceptance of gay people and away from categories 3 and 4. It was therefore assigned to category 2.

B23 St Nicholas 1

B25 St Luke 2

B26 Chapel Royal 1

Fresh Expressions Christ Church (4)
Church comments: We do not feel we can tick any of the boxes, as there are elements of each box we agree with, yet equally parts of each one we would want to question or clarify. We believe God's love is overwhelming, and sometimes shocking. The Bible teaches us both that we are more loved than we can possibly dream of, and that we are more selfish towards God and others than we have ever quite realised. We seek to live out both these truths as an open, gracious, loving community where no one is discriminated against.
Survey team analysis: In subsequent discussion with the incumbent he made clear that his church takes with the utmost seriousness the traditional interpretation of scripture which forbids the approval of any sexual activity outside marriage, and this means that they have no alternative but to teach that it is wrong to be in a same-sex relationship.