The Church of England (C of E) has voted to remove a clause from one of its key documents used in clergy selection, which described homosexuality as “especially dishonourable”, in a move seen as a step towards greater LGBTQ+ inclusion.
During a meeting on Tuesday (15 July), the General Synod – the Church’s legislative body comprising bishops, clergy, and lay members – overwhelmingly supported the decision to drop the clause from the 1991 document Issues in Human Sexuality.
Previously, aspiring clergy were required to agree to the document as part of the Church’s vocational discernment process. The text explicitly discouraged LGBTQ+ Christians from engaging in sexual relationships and declared that “homosexual practice [is] especially dishonourable”.
The clause’s removal marks a significant shift, although it does not alter official Church doctrine. The C of E confirmed the change was separate from its ongoing Living in Love and Faith project, which examines matters of sexuality and marriage within the Anglican Church.
A Document That Outstayed Its Purpose
Originally intended as a teaching resource, Issues in Human Sexuality evolved into a defining guide on clergy conduct. At 48 pages long, the document also states:
“Homophile orientation and its expression in sexual activity do not constitute a parallel and alternative form of human sexuality as complete within the terms of the created order as the heterosexual.”
The Church acknowledged the problematic tone of the document, stating:
“A paper introducing the item to Synod members noted that the tone, language, and some of the assumptions in ‘Issues’ are now contextually inappropriate, and appear prejudicial and offensive to many people.”
Charles Bączyk-Bell, a gay Anglican priest based in London, welcomed the decision, describing the document as “outdated” even at the time of its publication.
“Now it has gone… it opens the way for liberalisation of the church’s policy on same-sex relationships and means we can stop using it as a kind of reference text,” Bączyk-Bell told Reuters.
Growing Support for LGBTQ+ Inclusion
The decision follows recent steps by the Church of England to better recognise same-sex relationships. In 2023, the General Synod approved blessings for same-sex couples, and last year endorsed proposals allowing gay clergy to marry.
According to Church data, the Church of England represented a worshipping community of 984,000 people in 2022.
While many LGBTQ+ advocates see this latest move as progress, the Church’s overall position on same-sex marriage and full inclusion remains a live and evolving issue.
