Three Oxford University chaplains have signed an open letter in protest against recent guidance from the Church of England that banned all clergy from officiating same sex marriages.

The letter was written by Durham University’s Reverend Dr Hannah Cleugh and signed by 45 other clergymen under the age of 40. It argues that this guidance will widen the disconnect between the Church of England’s official position and the views of its members, and reinforce an image of the Church as a “toxic brand”.

The Pastoral Guidance note, which banned same-sex marriages in the clergy, was published by the House of Bishops, one of the three houses of the General Synod, which is the decision-making body of the Church of England. The note stated, “It would not be appropriate conduct for someone in holy orders to enter into a same sex marriage, given the need for clergy to model the Church’s teaching in their lives.”

Alongside heated pastoral debate, two Oxford academics have written a letter to The Telegraph, objecting to the premise stated in the note that “There will, for the first time, be a divergence between the… definition of marriage in England as enshrined in law and the doctrine of marriage held by the Church of England.”

Hannah Cleugh, Chaplain of University College, Durham, told Cherwell, “Obviously, it’s not true that only liberal churches grow – conservative churches and traditional, Catholic churches can be very popular with young people in Oxford. What makes a difference is the teaching and preaching and how welcoming the church community is. The Pastoral Guidance note is clearly a restatement of the Church of England’s existing position. However, following a recent report commissioned by the church, it has committed itself to a process of conversations across the Anglican Communion. The timing of this announcement is therefore unfortunate, and seems to be preempting some of these conversations.”

Andrew Allen, Chaplain at Exeter College, is among the clergy who signed the open letter protesting the new guidance. He pointed out the role of the Church in life at secular institutions like Oxford where chaplains are often students’ first port of call for welfare.

“The Church should remember that secular colleges choose to employ Chaplains and it seems that the Church has lost its lead on issues of morality and ethics,” he stated. “The point of Jesus Christ is that God comes to earth to meet people where they are in their lives; whilst some students may struggle with their own sexuality, many do not see this as an issue that the church should be concerned with.

“At Exeter we have a thriving Chapel community, not all who ‘sign up’, but who value what the gospel has to offer and the Church’s guidance on sexuality seems to run contrary to their experiences of religion and faith. Historically the University has often been at odds with the Church, and it is my hope that we will continue to challenge some of the views of the Church.”

Daniel Inman, Chaplain at Queen’s, said, “Although the Church is still in the early stages of rethinking its approach to gay couples, the new Church guidance was a document that gave us the sort of legalese that Jesus regularly mocked during his ministry at a time when we desperately needed to find ways of communicating that love and commitment are actually rather good things. I hope that changes soon, as the very peculiar limits that are currently set upon who can be blessed in our college chapels will surely become deeply problematic for Christian life here in the long term.

“If we’re willing to bless a Royal Navy battleship, why not a same-sex couple who are promising to cherish each other and be faithful to each other for as long as they both shall live?”

Anna Appleby, a Christian from St. Hilda’s identifies as LGBTQ+ and founded the Oxford students’ group ‘Faith and Diversity’, which focuses on issues such as the relationship between Christianity and sexuality. She said, “I believe God calls diverse people to the priesthood and therefore it is not up to the House of Bishops to assume who God might or might not call, or to deprive the Church community of LGBTQ+ people’s gifts and experience.”

However, one first year historian said, “For me, this is an issue of logical consistency. The Church of England isn’t legally allowed to conduct same-sex marriages. If its clergy can have same-sex marriages but not conduct them, it’s one rule for them and another for the laity.”

A BPhil student who committed suicide after breaking up with her boyfriend last year had been subjected to harassment by a Philosophy tutor at Pembroke, an inquest has heard.

The body of Charlotte Coursier, a graduate Philosophy student at St Edmund Hall, was found by her housemates at her home in East Oxford on 10^th June last year.

A coroner told the inquest that the student received “crazy and rambling emails” by from Dr Jeffrey Ketland.

The University has since been criticised for their handling of the harassment. One member of staff questioned the University’s decision not to immediately suspend Dr Ketland after the allegations were brought against him.

A spokesperson for the University told Cherwell, “The University takes allegations of harassment very seriously. Members of staff are made aware of the University’s policy on harassment and their responsibilities under it.”

It has also been alleged that the University’s advice to Coursier when she reported the harassment was “not to go to the faculty on days when he was lecturing”. The University responded that it was unable to comment on individual cases.

The University said it had conducted a review into the incident in October. A spokesperson commented, “Its purpose was to inform senior members of the University of the circumstances of Charlotte’s death and to advise on any future steps. The findings of the review remain confidential but University is continuing to consider the most appropriate action as a consequence.”

Dr Ketland and Coursier met at Edinburgh University where they had a sexual relationship. Coursier moved to pursue postgraduate studies at St Edmund Hall in October 2012. Ketland also came to Oxford soon after, taking up a lecturing position at Pembroke College.

When contacted by Cherwell, Pembroke declined to comment on the allegations.

Coursier began a relationship with Ben Fardell, from London, three months before moving to Oxford. Coursier received an email from Dr Ketland on 7^th May, to which she replied “politely”. Despite this the emails she received reportedly became “crazed and rambling”.

According to the inquest, Dr Ketland reminded Coursier that he saved her life when she overdosed on paracetamol in Edinburgh. Fardell said in a statement, “He thought he saved her life in Edinburgh and in doing so, he managed to destroy his own.”

“She went to see him in a professional capacity to seek help and advice. His abuse of her made an already fragile girl even worse.”

Coursier reported Dr Ketland to Thames Valley Police, who issued him with a warning under the Harassment Act.

During the inquest, Fardell suggested that his relationship with Coursier had undergone a number of problems. In a statement he said, “In the first six months there were issues of trust and commitment in the relationship.

“But Charlotte was much better in the new year. Then, in February, she discovered she was seven weeks pregnant despite taking contraception.” Coursier subsequently had an abortion on 25^th March.

According to Fardell, “She was very low for weeks after this and she found it very difficult to get over having murdered her child, as she put it.”

Professor Keith Gull, Principal of St Edmund Hall, told the Oxford Mail, “Charlotte was an outstanding student, well-liked by her friends, and is still greatly missed in our college community. Her death was a tragedy for her family and friends and our thoughts continue to be with them.”