In the chapter on 'the bible' (part of a comprehensive section on 'How do we hear God?', the traditional, conservative method of reading various passages is questioned and set against a revisionist interpretation. So for example, after lessons on how to look at the context and take into account "canonical diversity and complexity" (p280), there is a case study: can we articulate a 'biblical' view of marriage?

The Archbishops also gave an indication of the timeline for "decision-making" on issues such as same sex marriage, saying they hoped to come to conclusions by 2022.

The report also said that while some controversial opinions relate to the ethics and lifestyle of opposite sex relationships and there are questions about gender and pastoral provisions for transgender people, the "most pressing among our differences are questions around same sex relationships".

Unfortunately some evangelical leadership up until this point has been characterised by what might be called the 'Sergeant Wilson' approach -- a kind of languid diffidence which seeks to fulfil the New Testament injunction to 'contend earnestly for the faith' (Jude 1v3) with an approach that seems to say, 'Well, really, you know this is all terribly difficult isn't it, and you know, if things aren't sorted out doctrinally, and brought into line, I mean really there may have to be some kind of

Penduck is a West Midlands vicar who is also the Chair of Fulcrum and a prolific blogger on recent church history -- he's currently writing a series on different evangelical 'tribes' in the Church of England. In this piece in CEN his arguments for evangelicals to 'stay in' briefly analyse the contemporary scene before turning to a historical example not well known by English evangelical Anglicans.