The long awaited national procedure for offering the divorced the opportunity to marry in church was published at the end of January by the Working Party appointed by the General Synod.
The House of Bishops wants diocesan synods to discuss the proposals in the report after consultations with parishes, and P.C.C.s are to be consulted over their parishes' policy.
The Bishop of Chester, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Forster, has welcomed the report, which recommends that the Church should encourage the clergy to consider conducting marriages involving divorced people, suggesting pastoral guidelines that uphold the ideal of the lifelong character of marriage and provide a consistent approach to remarriage when that ideal has not been reached.
The Bishop, who is regarded as a traditionalist on many issues, nevertheless
firmly believes that the Church should respond generously to those who wish to make a new start in a new marriage, provided certain conditions are met.
These conditions are spelled out in the report and include an absence of scandal and proper provision for any children of a previous marriage.
The guidelines recommended are similar to those already provided by the Bishop for the Diocese of Chester, and many clergy already follow these.
"Forgiveness," Bishop Peter has said, "and the possibility of a new start, are central to the Christian faith. These new guidelines reflect that belief but also emphasise that the ideal and intention of every marriage must always be lifelong.
"Marriage is in need of support in our society and we must do everything we can to support the traditional ideal of marriage."