Dates and venues have been announced for a series of consultations around the diocese to reflect on the provision of Blessings for Same-Sex Unions.

The consultations are being carried out across the Church in Wales, by the bishops, to ask what changes are required at the end of the five-year experimental period currently in place, following a  Governing Body decision in 2021. There are a number of options to be discerned: could the provision be extended? Should it lapse? Could a further step be taken to provide for clergy to solemnize the marriage of same sex couples.

• Thursday 27 March, 7pm: Prestatyn Community Hall (next to Christ Church Prestatyn), LL19 9BN
• Monday 31March, 7pm: St Mary’s Church Hall, Ruabon, LL14 6DS
• Wednesday 2 April, 7pm: Llandrinio Village Hall, SY22 6SB
• Thursday 8 May, 7pm: St David’s Hall, adjacent to the Church, at Penrhyn Bay, LL30 3NT
• Monday 12 May, 7pm: Llangollen Pavilion, LL20 8SW
• Monday 19 May, 7pm: St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, CH5 4AD.

The final consultation for any clergy holding the Bishop’s Licence or Permission to Officiate will be held on Thursday 22 May, 2pm, at All Saints Church Hall, Southsea. Clergy are asked to attend this event, alongside one of the consultations listed above.

Anyone who wishes to contribute to this process is invited to attend one consultation most convenient for them. Each consultation will follow a similar format of careful, reflective listening to those who wish to speak. There will be no debate or discussion.

The Bishop of St Asaph, the Rt Revd Gregory Cameron ,who will be attending each event to listen, said: “The important thing to note is that these occasions will not be a debate, and there will be no vote. Rather, it is for those who wish to express what they believe that God has laid on their heart on these matters, and for those in attendance to listen respectfully, even where views may differ considerably. Contributions will be listened to respectfully, and quietly, and we will all listen for the voice of God’s Spirit to inform and guide us.”

To assist with the consultation, the Church in Wales’ Director of Faith, Order and Unity, Canon Dr Ainsley Griffiths, has produced an extensive resource surveying some of the literature that is available to inform us of the various contributions to the debate. You can access this list here: Reading list 

If the entire list seems daunting, on page two Ainsley has set out in three paragraphs a key recommended reading section that you may like to consult first.

You can find out more about the current situation in the Church in Wales at https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/faith/same-sex-marriage/