In July 2011, the House of Bishops commissioned a review group to draw together and reflect upon explorations on human sexuality conducted since the 1998 Lambeth Conference, and to offer proposals on how the continuing discussion within the Church of England about these matters might best be shaped. The group, which included four bishops, was Chaired by Sir Joseph Pilling. This is the group’s report.

Recognizing the continuing deep divisions within the Church on matters of sexuality, its key recommendations are for a process of facilitated conversations across the whole Church of England and in partnership with the rest of the Anglican Communion.

The report considers the rapidly changing context within which the group undertook its work. It examines the available data about the views of the public in our country over time. The report considers homophobia, evidence from science, from Scripture and from theologians. Included with the main report are a Prologue - “Living with holiness and desire’ by Dr Jessica Martin - and Appendices by Keith Sinclair, Bishop of Birkenhead and by the Revd David Runcorn, setting out two viewpoints on Scripture and same sex relationships.

The Report of the House of Bishops Working Group on human sexuality - while it is not a new policy statement from the Church of England - offers findings and recommendations to form part of the process of facilitated conversations.