It defends liberal positions on a wide range of issues including gender, sexuality, interfaith relations, religion and science, and biblical scholarship.
It expects to contribute to, and learn from, contemporary society in ways that are public, relevant and respectful.
[5][6] At the time both Evangelicalism and Anglo-Catholicism were becoming increasingly dogmatic in reaction against secular rationalism, which seemed a threat to religious belief.
During the twentieth century it was among the first voices within the Church to campaign for contraception, remarriage after divorce, the abolition of capital punishment, the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the consecration of women bishops.
As part of its work in support of gay and lesbian clergy it was heavily involved in resisting the proposed Anglican Covenant.
[13] It was written in the early 1980s at a time when the society was in decline and Stephenson expected it to die out, but since then it has revived.
Theologians among its current members include Linda Woodhead, Martyn Percy, Paul Badham, Elaine Graham, John Barton, Alan Race and Adrian Thatcher.