What happened at the General Synod today? Church of England row explained

Politics
13 Feb 2026 • 7:54 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • The Church of England's General Synod has concluded its years-long 'Living in Love and Faith' (LLF) process concerning same-sex relationships.
  • Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, apologised for 'failures of process' and acknowledged the 'pain and disappointment' caused by the initiative.
  • The LLF process, which aimed to address identity, sexuality, and marriage within Church teaching, cost £1.66 million over eight years.
  • While the Synod voted in 2023 to offer blessings to same-sex couples, efforts to allow these in standalone services have since stalled.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dame Sarah Mullally, stated the process has 'left us wounded as individuals and also as a Church,' with some members reportedly leaving due to feeling unwelcome.

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