Cohabitation: A Christian Reflection

28 Mar 2003

Invitation to press briefing

People who live together without marrying may wonder what the Church thinks of them. Guidance from the Church itself has varied between accommodating and condemning. In response to questioning about this issue the Diocese of Southwark's Board for Church in Society has just published a report: Cohabitation: a Christian Reflection. You are invited to a presentation of the report in the Garry Weston Library at Southwark Cathedral on Wednesday 2 April at 2.00 pm.

This major report re-examines the phenomenon of cohabitation in the light of newly-available statistics. It finds that public attitudes are ill-informed, that young people are making critical lifestyle choices on the basis of urban myths and it reveals the vulnerability of sexually-active unmarried relationships. The Report is persuaded by the combination of the new statistical data and the Church's traditional scriptural view that, despite all its imperfections, marriage is still the better option in helping people to lasting, loving and life-giving relationships.

The Southwark Diocesan Synod agreed that Cohabitation: A Christian Reflection should be offered for discussion in the parishes of the Diocese, with the help of a study guide and summary leaflet, and it has now been sent to the parishes.

Cohabitation: A Christian Reflection is available at £7.00 (£5 to parishes in the Diocese) from: Board for Church in Society, Trinity House, 4 Chapel Court, London SE1 1HW (020 7939 9412) or bcs@southwark.anglican.org
Also available is the Study Guide in five sessions at £1.00 inc p&p.

Note to Editors:

if you wish to receive a copy of the report by post in advance of the briefing, please call catherine walters, 020 7939 9412.

Ends.