The Church of England has played an important role in the development of the discussion of human sexuality in English society and in the Anglican Communion. In the 1950s the Church of England, while being clear that homosexual acts were not morally right, led the call for the decriminalisation of male homosexual acts. In England all male homosexual acts were a criminal offence until 1967 (there was no mention in law of female homosexuality).
The stance of the Church is summed up in Some Issues in Human Sexuality:
"The combination of beliefs that we find in the case of Archbishop Ramsey - a belief that homosexual activity between consenting adults should not result in criminal prosecution combined with a belief that the Church could not rightly bless homosexual relationships - remains the official position of the Church of England."
In the context of some calls for a loosening of traditional teaching, the 1987 Synod passed a strong motion which affirmed that the only proper context for sexual activity was within a permanent marriage relationship. All Christians were called to be "exemplary in all spheres of morality" and it was stressed that "holiness of life is particularly required of Christian leaders."
This motion was followed in 1991 by the publication of Issues in Human Sexuality - a statement by the House of Bishops, which offered a pastoral application of the 1987 Synod motion. It endorsed the belief that heterosexual marriage is the only proper context for human sexual activity. However, while it was made clear that due to the nature of their calling clergy should not enter into sexually active homosexual relationships, in section 5.6 it also argued for respect to be shown to those lay people who in good conscience believe God is calling them into "a loving and faithful homophile relationship" and that they should find "friendship and understanding." The section closes thus : "Indeed, if this is not done, any professions on the part of the Church that it is committed to openness and learning about the homophile situation can be no more than empty words." There is in these words, a clear call to engage with a listening process.
