FROM THE ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP OF CAPE TOWN

The Most Reverend Dr Thabo Cecil Makgoba

__________________________________________________________________________
BISHOPSCOURT CLAREMONT TELEPHONE: 086 1001171
CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL: +27 21 763-1300
7708 FAX: +27 21 761-4193
SOUTH AFRICA email: archpa@anglicanchurchsa.org.za

25th April, 2024

Dear People of God

After wrestling for more than 10 years over how to provide pastoral care and ministry to people in

same-sex unions, draft prayers for members in such unions will be debated by Provincial Synod in

September.

The drafts, to be discussed by the Synod of Bishops before Provincial Synod, appear on the

following pages, and I encourage your prayerful consideration of them.

The publication of these prayers has been a long time in the making. The Synod of Bishops

discussed pastoral guidelines in response to the Civil Unions recognised under South Africa's

Constitution in 2010, and has regularly visited the issue ever since. In 2013, Provincial Synod urged

the Bishops to finalise the guidelines “as soon as possible”.

The sticking point in our debates at Synod of Bishops has been that we are not of one mind

on the issue of blessings for same-sex unions. (You can see our latest detailed statement on the

matter here: https://anglicanchurchsa.org/statement-on-human-dignity-and-marriage-march-

2023/ )

In consequence, I asked the Bishops at our March 2023 session at least to develop prayers

of affirmation and acknowledgement for all faithful Anglicans. A small committee including

Bishops both accepting of, and opposed to, blessings for same-sex couples has compiled the 15

proposed prayers below. You will see that they reflect divergent positions, from asking God’s

blessing on a same-sex relationship (No. 16) to one which specifically expresses disagreement with

sexual relationships for same-sex couples (No. 10).

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 In order to provide ministry to all our people, we must engage this challenge, and I urge

you to deliberate on it in your parishes and Dioceses. Many of our young people have already

moved on from the debate, finding it difficult to understand why we can bless their dogs, cats and

guinea pigs in services commemorating St Francis of Assisi, but not their LGBTQI friends in

committed relationships. The recent decisions of the Church of England and Pope Francis of the

Roman Catholic Church to allow blessings for same-sex couples only add to their questions and

confusion.

God bless.

Church of England prayers:

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/press-releases/prayers-love-and-faith-be-made-available-use-
sunday

Vatican announcement:
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/256308/vatican-says-priests-can-bless-same-sex-couples-
without-condoning-their-lifestyles

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Draft prayers to be used with Episcopal Permission by Clergy in their respective Parishes to provide
Pastoral Ministry to those in same-sex unions

A Committee of Bishops appointed by the Archbishop and the Synod of Bishops drafted the following
prayers:

1.
Almighty God
in whom we move, leave and have our being:
Grant that N________ and N_______ may have a true understanding
and love fidelity for each other,
that they may be filled with faith and trust;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever
Amen

2.
Lord Jesus
Through your death on the cross
You have shown us unconditional love:
We ask you to be at the centre of N________ and N_______’s lives and
be the centre of their relationship,
Help them to focus on you,
and to put you first in their relationship;
We ask this in your name.
Amen.

3.
Almighty and everliving God
We ask you to pour upon N________ and N_______
the riches of your grace,
that they may truly please you
in body and soul,
through the merit of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen.

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4.
Almighty Father
We praise you and acknowledge your creative power
You made us in your image and invited us into relationship with you
Yet for all this we are not perfect
We fall short
We ask therefore in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
that you continue to make us anew
And grow us in your image and into a full relationship with you and your people
through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever
Amen

5.
Almighty Father
Help us to know that in our relationship with our fellow Christians
None of us are perfect
Guide us not to judge, for in so doing we judge ourselves,
Guide us to become more reflective of your glory
And more representative of what you intend
This in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen

6.
Almighty Father
We acknowledge your supreme will for our lives
Help us when we fall short
When we do not understand and
When we insist on our own way and understanding
Grow us and guide us into your truth
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen

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7.
Almighty Father
We are in conflict with one another
We are entrenched against our fellow Christian
This in the area of sexuality and dignity
Each claim to represent you, but you are not divided
Help us to recognize our common humanity
Help us to forge a path of righteousness and understanding
That we may reflect your presence and will for all your people
We ask this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen

8.
Almighty Father
We differ in our sexual orientation
This has led to animosity
What is your will for us?
What did you intend at our creation?
What do you intend for us now?
Help us, we pray, to discern your will
Help us to have the conviction and courage to change where change is required
The faith to walk your intended path and to reflect your glory
This we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen

9.
Almighty Father
Our Lord Jesus Christ interacted with all who came to him
He never chased any away
He challenged all to seek you more
To grow in their understanding of and relationship with you
We ask that we may seek you more
That we may grow in our understanding of and relationship with you
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen
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10.
Almighty Father
We stand before you conflicted
We are praying for this couple/family
Their conviction and sexual desire differs to ours
We acknowledge your love and acceptance of us as Christians
Yet, we are not in agreement with their sexual relationship
We pray therefore for your saving grace and wisdom in both our lives
That we may know your love
And know your intention for us
And change where change is required
That we may reflect your divine will for your creation
In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen

11.
Prayer for a couple at the Altar Rail spontaneously asking for a Blessing.

May Almighty God

Bless you Both
As you Kneel/Stand in this
Holy Place.
May you be enfolded by
God’s Grace
Amen

12.
The Blessing of a Home
‘THE BLESSING of a HOME’ in Services for Use 1993: Anglican Church of South Africa

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13.
Prayers for Same Sex Couples
God
Holy Trinity
God Of
Communion
Union
Community
And Communication
You Have Made Us
In Your Image
Enable Us By Your Grace
To Live Our Lives
In Union
Communion
Community
Communication
With You
And With Each Other Forever
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord
Amen

14.
Almighty God
You Are Our Creator
We Are Your Creatures
Enable Us By Your Holy Spirit
To Live Our Lives
In Mutual Fidelity And Charity
All The Days Of Our Life
Through Jesus Christ Our Lord
Amen

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15.
Holy God
Holy Father
Holy Son
You Have Said
“Be Ye Holy As You Are Holy
Make Us Holy As You Are Holy
And Make Us Wholly Thine
Through Jesus Christ
And The Holy Spirit
One God The Father
Now And Forever
Amen

16.
N________ and N_______
You stand before God
who created you
who loves you
who calls you

We pray that God may Bless you Both and your relationship
and make his face to shine upon you
and be gracious to you
and forever hold you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.