The Church of England’s General Synod has voted to scrap a document which said clergy could not engage in sexually active same-sex relationships.
Issues in Human Sexuality was written in 1991 and has been used during the ordination process for new candidates.
In a statement following the vote, the Church said that while the document was originally intended as a teaching resource, it had assumed a more definitive role in setting out expected conduct. Diocesan Directors of Ordinands are currently asked to confirm that candidates have agreed to “live within the guidelines in Issues in Human Sexuality”.
However, at its meeting in York, Synod members noted that the tone, language, and some of the assumptions were now contextually inappropriate, and appeared prejudicial and offensive to many people.
The 34-year-old document also suggests that bisexual people should seek counselling “to discover the truth of their personality”.
A motion asking the House of Bishops to remove any requirements relating to the document from the vocations process was supported by nearly all Synod members, from a range of theological standpoints.
The Church said the decision “doesn’t alter the church’s doctrine or canonical requirements, which remain in place. Rather, it reflects a desire to ensure that the discernment process for ordained ministry is both theologically robust and pastorally sensitive.”
Susie Leafe, director of Anglican Futures and a former member of Synod, told Premier it had been written in the language of “1991 bishops," and was "very unhelpful, not using the word ‘homosexual’ but using ‘homophile’ - which most ordinands wouldn’t have a clue what the bishops were talking about".
“It had long been a bone of contention and so it was taken off the table," said Leafe.
“At the same time, an amendment was brought, which means that any bishop, any clergy, any ordinand, has to live by the clergy code of conduct. So it was a little bit of a flag-waving exercise in the end, rather than something that made a big difference to the way in which the Church operates.”
The outdated guidance will now be removed, while the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process around sexuality, relationships and identity concludes.
The full replacement package of guidance is expected to come before Synod in 2026.