STHELEN 99S The Revd Oliver Ross BISHOPSGATE Area Dean to The City • St Olave's Church 8 Hart Street , EC3R 7NB

4 December 201 7

Dear Oliver

Subsequent to our meeting this morning I am writing on behalf of the clergy, wardens and church council of St Helen 8ishopsgate to confirm the position of all St Helen's clergy, wardens and deanery synod members.

Thank you for recognising the clarity and significance of the Bible's teaching on As sexual practice. we discussed, passages such as Matthew 5:2711; 19:3 - 12; 1 ADD~ESS Corinthians 6:9 - 11 and Revelation 2:19 - 29 make clear that God said what He St Helen'$ Church Office Grea t 5t Helen's meant and meant what He said in the Bible, and that He demands that this teaching London be taken seriously. In view of the place of repentance in a proper understanding of EC3A6Af the Christian Gospel (Luke 24:44 - 48; Acts 2:37 - 38), and together with faithful disciples across the world today and down through the ages, all St Helen's clergy, wardens and church council members hold any sexual practice outside of the marriage between one man and one woman to be a matter of primary importance and not merely a 'secondary matter' or 'adiaphora' over which faithful Christian disciples can 'agree to disagree',

THEPIlONE For this reason, and given the widely publicised views held by certain members of the 02072832231 deanery chapter, we (the clergy, wardens and PCC of St Helen's) no longer consider EHAU these church leaders who have ceased to 'believe and uphold the Christian faith as 5t -he Iens@st-hel ens.org.u ~ the has received it' to be ''walking together" with us in any meaningful spiritual partnership.

Of necessity, therefore, our relationship with such church leaders must now become temporarily impaired, until such time (for which we pray) as all church leaders in the deanery believe, teach and uphold the Christian faith and the Bible's teaching in their public and private words and conduct. Our temporarily impaired relationship means w• •"" that we shall no longer take part in some activities within the deanery that imply www.st-helens.org.uk partnership in the Gospel. This will impact a number of areas including the clergy chapter, prayers in deanery synod, and deanery services.

In other respects we shall remain full and active members of the deanery and diocesan structures.

I have, of course, already made these arrangements clear to Pete and to the , . We look forward, together with them, to advancing the cause of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Yours Sincerely

William Taylor Rector

5T HEUN 8 1$HOPSGAH C~.r',ty ".me - Th. Parochi,l Church CC: The Rt Revd Pete Broadbent Council of the £cd.,j ••tic.l P.r\$h 01 The Yen Luke Miller SI H.~.n, ai>h~te

REGISTERED CHARITY No. 1131501