Bishop Baker wrote to his clergy informing them that he has been given permission following his divorce from his wife and that he intends to marry in the spring of next year. "The marriage will be a private civil ceremony, and this will be followed by a Mass celebrated by the Bishop of London, with prayers of dedication and thanksgiving" at the Guild Church of St Dunstan-in-the-West.

In a letter dated 22 Oct 2014, Bishop Baker wrote, "I hope very much that you will understand that I have only reached this decision after a great deal of thought and prayer. I believe honestly that this is the best way of ordering my life and will provide a strong and stable future for me by the grace of God. I want to add just one or two things by way of context. While I have, of course, sought the permission of the Bishop of London as my Diocesan Bishop, I have also had discussions with the bishops of The Society, led by the Bishop of Pontefract, and he and they have been very supportive. I hope that those of you who exercise your right not to conduct further marriages in church can be reassured that that is a position I fully respect and understand, and that I will support you in continuing to adopt such a policy -- and would defend and explain it to anyone who came to me for advice."

A statement from the Rt. Rev Tony Robinson, chairman of the Council of Bishops stated, "None of the bishops of The Society underestimates the searing grief that accompanies the breakdown of a marriage: many of us have shared this grief within our own families. The news that following divorce Bishop Jonathan Baker is to marry in a civil ceremony followed by a service of thanksgiving and dedication in church should draw the assurance of prayers from everyone, including from those who will be bewildered and unsettled by it.

"Bishop Jonathan has diligently sought the permissions that the Church of England requires for him to marry again. The Bishops of the Society reaffirm their commitment both to the Church's teaching on Christian marriage as a sacramental sign, and to the need for pastoral sensitivity and care both for those who are married and for those whose marriages fail. Bishop Jonathan has been assured of our prayers."

Bishop Baker declined to respond to queries about his letter, citing the press of work. However, as the "flying bishop" for traditionalist clergy in the Diocese of London, his proposed second marriage has raised concerns from traditionalist clergy, who tell "Anglican Ink" that it they are at a loss to understand how a bishop dedicated to provide pastoral support for traditionalists can adopt a stance at odds with the position of most traditionalists -- and at odds with the public position taken by Forward in Faith on divorce and remarriage.

The national secretary of Forward in Faith at that time, the Rev. Geoffrey Kirk said its members believe that Scripture is clear in stating that divorce and remarriage are not permissible for Christians. He told the Sunday Telegraph, "The doctrine of matrimony is closely associated with ecclesiology and so it would seem utterly unacceptable that divorce and remarriage be part of the regimen of those who are called to represent and effect the unity of the Church.

"Promoting divorced bishops is a far more serious matter than homosexual bishops because it is undermining one of the fundamental teachings of scripture."

Fr. Kirk, who has since joined the Anglican Ordinariate, stated, "Either Jesus said what he did about divorce and marriage or he didn't. If you allow yourself not to take notice of this can you then allow yourself to take notice of anything else he taught?"

He told a Church of England Newspaper, "It is a further example of the 'Sweden-isation' of the Church of England. Just like the Church of Sweden we are becoming progressively liberal. The Church of Sweden is no longer a church and we will soon be like that."

A leader in Forward in Faith USA told VOL, "The Forward in Faith North America Council will be discussing many matters this week including several international matters related to Forward in Faith (UK)."

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