HTB’s Nicky Gumbel and Archie Coates break silence on same-sex prayers

Eleven prominent Christian leaders, including HTB’s Archie Coates and Nicky Gumbel, have written to CofE bishops to say that introducing prayers for same-sex couples would be “unlawful, unconstitutional, and illegitimate” without a full debate and vote at next week’s General Synod. Here’s the letter in full and what it could mean for HTB’s stance on sexuality

The high profile signatories include Rev Nicky Gumbel and Rev Archie Coates, the previous and current vicars of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB) church, as well as several key leaders in the HTB network. Also included are the previous and current leaders of New Wine, Rev Paul Harcourt and Rev Dr Rich Johnson, Rt Rev Julian Henderson, President of Church of England Evangelical Council and Ed Shaw, Ministry Director of Living Out.

For many, the presence of Coates and Gumbel in the list of signatories is a hopeful indication of clarity of position from one of the CofE’s most influential (and successful) network of churches. The leaders have, in previous years, been accused of giving a politician’s answer when pressed on the issue of same-sex relationships, often telling journalists that their ”position on this subject is exactly the same as the Anglican Church.” However, as debate within the CofE has moved on, this has become increasingly untenable for any person or church who wishes to hold the traditional view of sex and marriage.