Jayne Ozanne, a prominent gay evangelical and campaigner, has made headlines with her resignation from the General Synod of the Church of England. Her departure underscores a deepening crisis within the Church regarding its treatment of LGBTQ+ youth. Ozanne’s resignation, driven by what she describes as a failure to prioritize safeguarding issues for LGBTQ+ individuals, comes at a crucial juncture for the Church, especially following recent debates on same-sex blessings.
Ozanne, who is also the director of the Ozanne Foundation, a former government adviser, and a survivor of conversion therapy, has been a pivotal figure in the Church’s discussions on LGBTQ+ rights. Her decision to leave the Synod was prompted by the Church’s vote to trial blessing services for same-sex couples, a move she describes as “begrudging.” This step, according to Ozanne, fails to address the core issue within the Church: the view of sex outside marriage as a salvation issue.
The catalyst for her resignation was a recent meeting at Lambeth Palace with Archbishop Justin Welby. During this meeting, Welby’s comments, perceived as equating gay people with militia leaders responsible for mass killings, deeply distressed Ozanne. She described leaving the meeting in tears, feeling that the Church continues to condone abuse against LGBTQ+ people. In her resignation letter, she criticized the bishops’ agenda of “unity at any cost” as highly abusive and a significant safeguarding failure.
While Welby expressed regret over her departure and promised to forward her allegations to the safeguarding authority, Ozanne sees her future role as holding the government accountable, particularly over the lack of a ban on conversion therapy. Despite the toll her role in the Church has taken, she has been encouraged by the widespread support from both the Christian and LGBTQ+ communities following her resignation.
Ozanne’s parting message to LGBTQ+ youth in non-affirming church communities is clear: “God loves us passionately.” She urges them to leave churches that do not affirm their identities and seek supportive, inclusive communities. This move, she believes, will make space for new voices in the Church, continuing the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance within religious institutions.