Since the 1990s, the Anglican Communion has struggled with controversy regarding homosexuality in the church. In 1998, the 13th Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops passed a resolution "rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture". However, this is not legally binding, "though it commends an essential and persuasive view of the attitude of the Communion." "Anglican national churches in Brazil, South Africa, South India, New Zealand and Canada have taken steps toward approving and celebrating same-sex relationships amid strong resistance among other national churches within the 80 million-member global body. The Episcopal Church in the U.S. has allowed same-sex marriage since 2015, and the Scottish Episcopal Church has allowed same-sex marriage since 2017." In 2017, clergy within the Church of England indicated their inclination towards supporting same-sex marriage by dismissing a bishops' report that explicitly asserted the exclusivity of church weddings to unions between a man and a woman. At General Synod in 2019, the Church of England announced that same-gender couples may remain recognised as married after one spouse experiences a gender transition. In 2023, the Church of England announced that it would authorise "prayers of thanksgiving, dedication and for God's blessing for same-sex couples."

In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster, in the Anglican Church of Canada, permitted the blessing of same-sex unions. In 2003, two openly gay men in England and the United States became candidates for bishop. In the Church of England, Jeffrey John eventually succumbed to pressure to withdraw his name from consideration to be the Bishop of Reading. In the Episcopal Church in the United States, Gene Robinson was elected and consecrated Bishop of New Hampshire, becoming the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion and in apostolic Christianity. This was highly controversial and led several hundred bishops to boycott the 2008 Lambeth Conference. As an alternative to Lambeth, many of these bishops attended the Global Anglican Futures Conference in Jerusalem.

As of 2004, other Anglican provinces, including the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and the Scottish Episcopal Church, permitted the ordination of gay clergy and others, such as the Episcopal Church in the USA, permitted blessing of same-sex unions as well. In South Africa, the Diocese of Saldanha Bay voted to support blessings for same-sex civil unions. The Anglican Church of Australia's highest court ruled that a diocese may authorise the blessing rites of same-sex unions. In Australia, two dioceses have done so. In 2019, the Southern African Provincial Synod voted to commend for study a proposal allowing each diocese to choose to offer services of prayer for couples in same-sex civil unions.

Many provinces, primarily from the Global South and representing about half of the 80 million active Anglicans worldwide, have responded to these theological disputes by declaring a state of impaired communion with their Western counterparts. Minority groups in Western provinces have stated their opposition to what they consider un-scriptural actions by the churches in England, Canada, Australia, and the United States. Since 2000, some conservative Global South provinces have appointed missionary bishops to the United States and Canada to provide pastoral oversight to disaffected Anglicans. This process, known as Anglican realignment, is considered by the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church of Canada to be an illegitimate incursion into their territories; however, conservative Anglicans argued that the incursions were necessary because of the failure of these churches to uphold traditional teaching with regard to human sexuality. In February 2023, the General Synod of Church of England endorsed blessings for same-sex couples. but believe in tolerance towards others, whereas other followers believe that LGBT+ Anglicans should be able to marry a person of the same sex in church.

Some Anglicans may choose to identify as "gay", "lesbian", "bisexual", "LGBT+", or "same-sex attracted", or in other ways, depending on their personal beliefs and identity.

Some of the more specific issues under study within member churches and dioceses are:

  • Gay, lesbian, bisexual, LGBT+, or same-sex attracted members of the church or communion
  • If they may exist
  • If they must denounce their sexual orientation and strive to become heterosexual (see conversion therapy)
  • If they must renounce same-sex relationships in order to be considered members in good standing
  • If they must be celibate
  • If same-sex unions (such as civil partnerships or civil marriages) of LGBTQ members should be blessed
  • If a church, or any church in the communion, should conduct same-sex marriages.
  • Gay, lesbian, bisexual, LGBT+, or same-sex attracted clergy
  • If they may be openly authentic regarding their sexual orientation
  • To what extent they may be "out" (e.g. only to their bishop, partner, spouse, or family, or to the wider public)
  • If they may openly have a partner or spouse
  • If they must be celibate
  • If any of these individuals (those who are celibate and those who are non-celibate) may be bishops

Anglican churches are diverse in their views, from churches which teach that homosexuality is a sin, to churches which do not see homosexuality as sinful, and accept same-sex marriage being open to all members, up to and including bishops. The nature of the Anglican Communion is such that not all churches or dioceses must agree on all issues in order to share a common faith and baptism.

  • The bishops of the Anglican Communion in 1998 upheld the traditional Christian teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman and that those who are not called to marriage so defined should remain celibate. A resolution was passed stating that "homosexual acts" are "incompatible with Scripture" by a vote of 526–70; however, it also contained a statement which "calls on all our people to minister pastorally and sensitively to all irrespective of sexual orientation and to condemn irrational fear of homosexuals, violence within marriage and any trivialisation and commercialisation of sex," and noted importantly: "We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ." The Lambeth Conference cannot impose doctrine but serves as a discussion forum on controversial issues. Over 100 bishops, including some who voted in favour of the resolution, immediately repudiated it and signed a letter of apology to gay and lesbian Anglicans. However, over 80% of the bishops did not do so.
  • In 2002, the Anglican Church of Canada, the Diocese of New Westminster voted to allow the blessing and officiation of same-sex unions and marriages by those parishes who choose to do so.
  • In 2003, two openly gay men in England and the United States were nominated to be bishops. Jeffrey John, an openly gay priest in a celibate same-sex relationship, was nominated to be Bishop of Reading, but withdrew his nomination under pressure from conservatives. Gene Robinson was consecrated the Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire and became the first openly gay and non-celibate bishop in the Anglican Communion, sparking controversy and causing some churches to impair communion with The Episcopal Church.
  • The Church of England affirmed in 2005 that lay members who have entered into civil partnerships with persons of the same sex are still eligible for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and communion.
  • Also in 2005, the Church of England permitted priests to register a same-sex civil partnership provided they expect to be asked to follow the House of Bishops guidelines.
  • The Church of Nigeria and the Church of Uganda criticised the Church of England for allowing same-sex civil partnerships.
  • The Anglican Church of Nigeria issued a statement in 2006 affirming their rejection of homosexuality and asking the National Assembly to prohibit it.
  • In 2016, it was made public that the Church of England had consecrated Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop suffragan of Grantham, knowing he was gay and in a long-term same-sex relationship. Chamberlain, who is a suffragan bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln, is the first Anglican bishop in England to come out as gay.
  • GAFCON, an association of conservative Anglican churches, called the appointment of the first openly gay bishop in England a "major error".
  • The Church of England rebuked GAFCON and "pointed out clergy were allowed to enter civil partnerships and could offer prayers of support for same-sex couples".
  • In April 2017, GAFCON announced that it is appointing a missionary bishop "for conservative Christians in Europe, bypassing Anglican Churches in England and Scotland".
  • In 2022 at the Lambeth Conference 175 bishops signed a statement affirming the holiness of committed love of same-gender couples.
  • In February 2023, the Archbishop's Council of Church of England allowed blessing ceremony for same-sex couples. As a consequence, archbishops from 10 of the 42 provinces of the global Anglican Communion (South Sudan, Chile, the Indian Ocean, Congo, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Uganda, Sudan, Alexandria and Melanesia) declared they no longer recognize the leadership of the archbishop of Canterbury.

Bishops

thumb|Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire

1973 Archbishop of York's statement

While serving as Archbishop of York, Donald Coggan declared on BBC radio in 1973 that many Anglican clergymen were homosexuals and calling for them to be treated with understanding.

1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops

Regarding "human sexuality", the 1998 Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops said that it upholds "faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman in lifelong union, and believes that abstinence is right for those who are not called to marriage". Furthermore, it refused to "advise the legitimising or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions".

1999 Cambridge Accord

In response to the division following the Lambeth Conference of the previous year, most Church of England bishops (although not including George Carey, then Archbishop of Canterbury), and many others elsewhere in the Anglican Communion, agreed in 1999 on a document that upheld the human rights of homosexual people, while recognising and not seeking to resolve division over the morality of homosexual acts.

Gene Robinson consecrated bishop

In August 2003 the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire elected an openly gay and partnered priest, Gene Robinson, as bishop. This came shortly after a similar controversy in England when an openly gay priest, Canon Jeffrey John, was appointed to become the Suffragan Bishop of Reading. Eventually, however, John agreed to withdraw in order to avoid division. In 2004, in the aftermath of Robinson's election as bishop, John was installed as Dean of St Albans, the cathedral there being the site of England's first Christian martyr.

2003 Lambeth Palace meeting

As a result of the controversy over the ordination of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions, on 15 October 2003, Anglican leaders from around the world met in Lambeth Palace in an attempt to avoid a schism on the issue. The day after, they released a lengthy statement:

Statements from Rowan Williams

In 2004, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote a letter to Anglican churches worldwide in which he condemned comments by bishops outside the Western world for inciting violence against gay men and women.

Subsequent division

Bishops from two Anglican provinces, the Province of Rwanda and the Province of South East Asia, consecrated missionary bishops for the United States in January 2000 and formally established the Anglican Mission in America (now called the Anglican Mission in the Americas) later that year. In 2010, a similar jurisdiction created by the Reformed Episcopal Church and former members and congregations of the Episcopal Church in the USA was officially launched. Four dioceses which withdrew from the Episcopal Church account for the majority of the nearly 700 congregations affiliated with this church, the Anglican Church in North America. These two bodies—AMiA and ACNA—reject the creation of rites for same-sex unions as well as the ordination of openly gay people. Neither is a member of the Anglican Communion at present (see Anglican realignment).

Bishops in Uganda cut relations with the Diocese of New Hampshire following Robinson's consecration on 2 November 2003. The Church of Nigeria declared itself in "impaired communion" with the Episcopal Church on 2 November 2003, and nine days later announced it was planning to establish a United States branch of its province to support Nigerian Anglicans living in the U.S., the Convocation of Anglicans in North America. The Province of South East Asia broke communion with the Episcopal Church on 20 November 2003, citing Robinson's consecration as the reason for its action.

Windsor Report and 2005 Primates Meeting

In 2004, the Lambeth Commission on Communion issued a report on homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, which became known as the Windsor Report. This report recommended a moratorium on further consecrations of openly gay bishops and blessings of same-sex unions and marriages. It stopped short of recommending discipline against the Episcopal Church or Anglican Church of Canada.

Apology by 184 bishops

A "Pastoral Statement to Lesbian and Gay Anglicans from Some Member Bishops of the Lambeth Conference," dated 5 August 1998, was sponsored by Ronald H. Haines, Bishop of Washington. The statement apologised to Lesbian and Gay Anglicans for the Windsor Report and for the fact that their voices were not heard by the Conference. By 30 October 1998, the statement had been co-signed by 183 bishops representing every continent except Antarctica.

2005 Primates' Meeting

In February 2005, the Primates of the Anglican Communion held a regular meeting at Dromantine in Northern Ireland at which sexual orientation was heavily discussed. Of the 38 Primates, 35 attended. The Primates issued a communiqué that reiterated most of the Windsor Report's statements, but added a new twist. Both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada were asked to voluntarily withdraw from the Anglican Consultative Council, the main formal international entity within the Anglican Communion until the next Lambeth Conference in 2008.

2007 Primates' Meeting

The "Communiqué of the Primates' Meeting, February 2007" (Sec 17, 4) asserted its "belief that The Episcopal Church has departed from the standard of teaching on human sexuality accepted by the Communion in the 1998 Lambeth Resolution 1.10 by consenting to the episcopal election of a candidate living in a committed same-sex relationship, and by permitting Rites of Blessing for same-sex unions. The episcopal ministry of a person living in a same-sex relationship is not acceptable to the majority of the Communion."

Consecration of Mary Douglas Glasspool

In December 2009, the Diocese of Los Angeles elected Mary Douglas Glasspool, a lesbian priest with a female partner as a suffragan bishop. She was consecrated on 15 May 2010. Leaders from 20 Anglican provinces meeting in Singapore in April 2010 declared that the election and intended consecration of Glasspool represented "a total disregard for the mind of the Communion".

2016 Primates' Meeting

A majority of the primates voted to discipline the Episcopal Church for revising its canons and marriage rites allowing same-sex marriage.

The primates' communiqué included these words:

The communiqué condemned "homophobic prejudice and violence and resolved to work together to offer pastoral care and loving service irrespective of sexual orientation".

Archbishop of Canterbury apologises

Shortly after the meeting of the Anglican primates, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, held a press conference in which he apologised "to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for the hurt and pain they have experienced by the Anglican Communion over the years". This was the first time that bishops in same-sex partnerships were invited. At the time of the invitations, there were Anglican bishops in a same-sex marriage or partnership in Canada, England, and the United States. However, the spouses and partners of the bishops were not invited in an effort to compromise with bishops from more traditionalist or conservative provinces, and the organising archbishops explained that this was, in part, because the majority of Anglican provinces only recognise marriages between a man and a woman and do not recognise same-sex unions. In response, The Episcopal Church and bishops from Canada and the UK publicly disagreed with the decision. On the other side, bishops from more conservative Anglican provinces threatened to boycott Lambeth 2020 over the inclusion of married and partnered gay and lesbian bishops, and the bishops from Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda will not be in attendance. GAFCON argued that "same-sex partnered bishops" should not be included and that, instead, traditionalist bishops should be invited. Finally, at Lambeth 2022, 175 bishops and primates signed a statement affirming the holiness of the love of all same-sex couples.

February 2023: General Synod of Church of England

In February 2023, the General Synod of Church of England voted to approve of blessings for same-sex couples following a civil marriage or civil partnership.

Church of England

The Church of England has been discussing human sexuality, same-sex unions, and marriage. In 2023, the House of Bishops and General Synod approved of blessings for same-sex couples following a civil partnership or civil marriage. The commended prayers to bless same-sex couples, "Prayers of Love and Faith," may be used during regular church services while "standalone" services of blessing will require additional steps for approval. In December 2023, the first blessings approved for use during a regular church service took place. The canons of the Church of England currently state that "marriage is in its nature a union permanent and lifelong... of one man with one woman, to the exclusion of all others on either side", and consequently teaches that Holy Matrimony can only be between one man and one woman. The Church of England has also maintained the position that it supports celibate same-sex relationships including civil partnership. The House of Bishops and Archbishop's Council communicated that "The Church of England recognises that same-sex relationships often embody fidelity and mutuality. Civil partnerships enable these Christian virtues to be recognised socially and legally in a proper framework." A spokesperson for the Church of England, has reiterated that "the church has no truck with homophobia and even supports clergy who are in civil partnerships...(But) the Church of England's doctrine on marriage is [that it is between a man and a woman]." The current position, stated in 2014, of the House of Bishops is that it is not "willing for those who are in a same-sex marriage to be ordained to any of the three orders of ministry". At General Synod in July 2019, the church announced that same-gender couples may remain and be recognised as married when one spouse experiences gender transition provided that the spouses identified as opposite genders at the time of the marriage. According to the document, same-sex monogamous relationships were acceptable for lay people but not clergy. On the tenth anniversary of the publication of Issues in Human Sexuality, Michael Bourke, Bishop suffragan of Wolverhampton, wrote that "Issues aspired to help forward a debate on the subject", but rather than serving its stated purpose, "Issues has been presented as a consensus to which all bishops are expected to subscribe. Instead of enabling open and charitable discussion, it has served as an instrument of management and control."

2000–2009

The issue of human sexuality erupted when Jeffrey John, an openly gay priest, was elected area Bishop of Reading in May 2003. Before he could take up his post there was strong opposition from a minority of bishops and he was persuaded to not proceed with the appointment. However, many senior bishops have voiced disappointment at his decision to resign. Later in 2004 he was installed as Dean of St Albans. Further controversy erupted when churches in the Diocese of St Albans decided that they would withhold contributions until further notice to protest this appointment. St. Peter and Paul's Church in Cranfield, near Bedford, and Holy Trinity Church in New Barnet, north of Greater London, pledged to withhold money from diocesan funds in protest. St Andrew's Church in the Hertfordshire town of Chorleywood also announced that it would withhold funds until further notice. Yet, in 2002, reporters confirmed that hundreds of same-sex blessings occur, although unofficially, every year.

In 2004, "the majority of Bishops who voted during the whole passage of the Civil Partnerships Act through [the] Lordships' House were in favour of civil partnerships." Eight bishops voted in favour of civil unions and two voted against the passage of the Act.

On 25 July 2005, the House of Bishops issued a pastoral statement on the "implications of the Civil Partnerships" which came into force on 5 December 2005. The statement reaffirmed "the Church's teaching on both marriage and sexual intercourse". It also noted that "the new legislation makes no change to the law in relation to marriage". The statement went on to say that "clergy of the Church of England should not provide services of blessing for those who register a civil partnership". However, it said that if clergy are "approached by people asking for prayer in relation to entering into a civil partnership," they should "respond pastorally and sensitively". Regarding clergy themselves, "entering into a civil partnership" was not considered "intrinsically incompatible with holy orders, provided the person concerned is willing to give assurances to his or her bishop that the relationship is consistent with the standards for the clergy set out in Issues in Human Sexuality (House of Bishops, December 1991)." "The House of Bishops considers it would be a matter of social injustice to exclude from ministry those who are faithful to the teaching of the Church, and who decide to register a civil partnership." However, the statement said that "lay people who have registered civil partnerships ought not to be asked to give assurances about the nature of their relationship before being admitted to baptism, confirmation and communion."

In February 2007, the General Synod of the Church of England adopted a motion. In part it read that nothing should be done "that could be perceived as the Church of England qualifying its commitment to the entirety of the relevant Lambeth Conference Resolutions". At Lambeth Conference 1998, homosexuality was that the most hotly debated issue. Its Resolution 1.10 stated in an amendment passed by a vote of 389–190 that "homosexual practice" is "incompatible with Scripture".

In 2008, in spite of the action by the General Synod, St Bartholomew's Church in London offered a rite of blessing for two priests entering into a same-sex civil partnership. Nevertheless, other dioceses and parishes supported the inclusion of gay and lesbian priests. In 2008, the Diocese of London provided guidelines saying "clergy[...] may use a form of service they consider suitable in respect of a civil partnership." In London, some churches have dedication services for civil partnerships.

2010–2014

In 2011, the General Synod voted to extend pensions and employee benefits to gay and lesbian priests living with their partners in civil unions.

In January 2012, the House of Bishops of the Church of England commissioned a Working Group on Human Sexuality. The working group included Joseph Pilling chairman, four bishops and three advisers.

In 2012, David Ison, Dean of St Paul's, announced his support for same-sex marriage and said that he had officiated at blessings or prayer services for same-sex couples. Changing Attitude UK, an affirming group of clergy, laity, and churches within the Church of England, provides a list of prayer services allowed including a "Service of Celebration following a Civil Partnership". Colin Fletcher, Acting Bishop of Oxford, gave permission for at least one same-sex celebration to be officiated by a Church of England priest who presided for the high-profile ceremony for Mpho Tutu and her partner. The Diocese of Southwark is another example of offering inclusive services. In 2017, the Southwark Cathedral hosted a celebration for a same-sex civil partnership. York Minster Cathedral also welcomes same-sex couples in civil partnerships for prayer.

In January 2013, the House of Bishops ruled that priests in same-sex civil partnerships could be consecrated as bishops.

In April 2013, the Church of England's Faith and Order Commission, in a missive to clergy, also communicated that "there was a need for committed same-sex couples to be given recognition and 'compassionate attention' from the Church, including special prayers." In November 2013, the Report of the Working Group on Human Sexuality (nicknamed the Pilling Report) was published. It said that the Church should "stand firmly" against "homophobic attitudes" and should repent "for the lack of welcome and acceptance extended to homosexual people in the past, and to demonstrate the unconditional acceptance and love of God in Christ for all people". The report's key recommendation was "that the church's internal dialogue on the subject of human sexuality might best be addressed through a process of conversations across the church and involving others in the Anglican Communion". This recommendation was endorsed and acted on by the church as recounted later in this section. Also, in 2013, some in the Church of England planned a liturgical blessing of gay couples. endorsed the Pilling Report recommendation about process of conversations on the issue of homosexuality.

After the legalisation of same-sex marriages, the Church of England communicated that "the option of civil partnership should remain open for same-sex couples."

In February 2014, the House of Bishops decreed the following:

  • No special services of blessing for married same-sex couples, but allowed "more informal kinds of prayer, at the request of the couple [but this should] be accompanied by pastoral discussion of the Church's teaching and [the couple's] reasons for departing from it".
  • Clergy will not be allowed to enter same-sex marriages.
  • Clergy of the same sex are allowed by the Church to enter civil partnerships, but only on the understanding that they will remain celibate.

Still, "gay couples who get married will be able to ask for special prayers in the Church of England after their wedding, the bishops have agreed". As such, some congregations have offered "Prayers for a Same Sex Commitment". Moreover, "Bishops have little power to prevent gay clergy from marrying nor to sack them if they do. A panel of three senior bishops has been set up to advise other bishops on how to apply the guidance when clergy dissent. The usual format is an informal letter of rebuke and no further action, meaning more and more clergy are choosing to marry their same-sex partners." In April 2014, the Archbishop's Council and House of Bishops asked that the government to continue to offer civil partnerships.

In September 2014, the College of Bishops met for three days. "Two of the days were devoted to the first of a series of shared conversations in the Church of England on Sexuality, Scripture and Mission. As part of the conversations the college shared the different responses being expressed in the life of the church and the deeply held convictions and experiences that inform them." Also in September 2014, Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, confirmed that a service of thanksgiving for a same-sex civil partnership contravened no rules.

Andrew Cain (now Andrew Foreshew-Cain), Vicar of St Mary's Church, Kilburn and St James' Church West, in North London planned to defy the House of Bishops' ban and bless same-sex marriages, as did a few others. Some congregations and clergy, such as St John's Church in Waterloo in South London, have begun to invite same-sex couples to receive thanksgiving services for civil marriages.

Same-sex attracted people who are ordained deacons, priests and bishops are forbidden to marry someone of the same sex and same-sex attracted people who are married to someone of the same sex are forbidden to be ordained. Ben Bradshaw MP wanted the position of the Church of England clarified. Specifically, he demanded to know if Church of England clergy who married a same-sex partner would be disciplined or defrocked. Gay people, including those in same-sex civil partnerships, are allowed to become clerics but are expected to remain celibate. The Huffington Post wrote in a 2014 article that gay clergy who enter into same-sex marriage or bless same-sex marriages risk being defrocked and losing their jobs. Seven clerics planned to marry regardless, defying their bishops. Some Church of England bishops, however, fully accept and embrace gay clergy with partners or spouses in their diocese while other bishops remove the licences of such clergy, making it extremely difficult for them to find a position in another diocese. On 12 April 2014, Jeremy Pemberton married Laurence Cunnington, thus becoming the first priest in the Church of England to defy the church's ban on the marriage of gay clergy. Also in 2014, an openly lesbian and trans priest was appointed as a minor canon in Manchester Cathedral.

2015–2019

In 2015, John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, told a lay preacher, Jeremy Timm, that if he persisted with plans to marry his long-time partner, his licence to preach in Anglican churches would be revoked. As of August 2015, an agreement was reached: Timm would complete existing preaching commitments before revocation. Timm announced his plans to be married in September 2015 and to leave the Church of England and join "Contemplative Fire", a dispersed, diverse and inclusive group that is primarily Anglican.

Other bishops and dioceses have supported same-gender marriage and have advocated for the right of gay priests to marry. For example, Nick Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury, endorsed same-sex marriage following its passage. In December 2015, Alan Wilson, area Bishop of Buckingham, announced his support for same-gender marriage within the church. In 2016, another priest, in the Diocese of Southwark, converted his civil partnership into marriage and remained a priest. The Diocese in Europe also reported the marriage of a same-gender couple that took place in a Lutheran church in Denmark. The Diocese of Chichester featured Gay Pride in Brighton and encouraged participation. Also, the Diocese of Lichfield launched a congregation especially to reach out to LGBTI people. Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool, has called for the church to be more inclusive of same-gender relationships. In 2018, the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich appointed Joe Hawes, who is in a civil partnership, as Dean of St Edmundsbury. Later, the Diocese of Lichfield communicated support for "radical Christian inclusion" and that churches should welcome and honour LGBTI people. Andrew Foreshew-Cain, who entered into a same-sex marriage, continued in his position at St. Mary's Church, Kilburn and St. James' Church West in North London, but was prohibited from any other diocesan positions within the Church of England; however, in 2018, and due to the unique status of Church of England university chaplaincies, Foreshew-Cain was appointed as the Chaplain for the University of Oxford's Lady Margaret Hall, the first priest in a same-sex marriage appointed to the chaplaincy.

In 2016, the General Synod announced that, in response to the growing support for gay marriage, it will reconsider allowing blessing rites for same-gender couples entering into marriage. Additionally, an openly married gay priest was elected to the 2016 General Synod representing a historic moment for gay rights in the church.

From 10 to 12 July 2016, following the prorogation of the meeting of the General Synod, most "members met in an informal setting in which they listened and were heard as they reflected together on scripture and a changing culture in relation to their understanding of human sexuality".

The Church of England's official Statement after the synod's members completed their informal reflections said that "the Shared Conversations over the last two years now come to a conclusion with over 1300 members of the church directly involved. It is our hope that what has been learned through the relationships developed will inform the way the church conducts whatever further formal discussions may be necessary in the future."

In September 2016, Nicholas Chamberlain, Bishop of Grantham, announced that he is gay and in a celibate relationship with his male partner, becoming the first bishop to do so in the Anglican church. Following Chamberlain's coming out, he "received high-level support from the most senior official in the Anglican communion" as the Secretary General, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, said that "the Anglican Communion has never made sexual orientation a condition of eligibility to hold office within the church and I reject the suggestion that it has".

In November, 2016, William Nye, the Secretary General of the Archbishop's Council, confirmed the following:

During the General Synod of February 2017, the House of Clergy voted against the motion to 'take note' of a conservative position on marriage. As a result of needing a majority in all three houses, the General Synod rejected the motion. Following the rejection of the 'take note' motion, the Archbishops of Canterbury and of York called for the need of a "radical new Christian inclusion" that is "founded in Scripture, in reason, in tradition, in theology and the Christian faith as the Church of England has received it; it must be based on good, healthy, flourishing relationships, and in a proper 21st century understanding of being human and of being sexual". In June 2017, the two Archbishops announced the appointment of a Pastoral Advisory Group and an Episcopal Teaching Document Group. The Pastoral Advisory Group aims to support and advise dioceses on the "current pastoral approach of the Church to human sexuality", with a focus on same-sex couples; the chair is Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle. The Episcopal Teaching Document Group aims to create a "major teaching document on marriage and sexuality" to be endorsed by the House of Bishops; the chair is Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry. The group subsequently became the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) project. The enabling officer for the project is Dr Eeva John. It reported progress to General Synod in February 2019 and February 2020.

In October 2017, the Diocese of Hereford voted in favour of a motion supporting liturgies for same-sex couples to dedicate a civil partnership or civil marriage in church; the General Synod is set to discuss the motion. In 2022, "The House [of Bishops] also agreed to the formation of a Pastoral Consultative Group to support and advise dioceses on pastoral responses to circumstances that arise concerning LGBTI+ clergy, ordinands, lay leaders and the lay people in their care."

On 12 February 2018, the Church of England's Education Office published a policy supporting sex education which includes, among other things, education concerning one's sexual desire. The policy stated that "Sex education should include an understanding that all humans are sexual beings and that sexual desire is natural. Pupils should be taught that humans express their sexuality differently and that there is diversity in sexual desire." The book aims to describe all opinions on sexuality fairly and clearly, and to interrogate them in context of scripture, science, culture, and lived experience. Writing about the book, a Church Times editorial declared: "it's out, it's long, it's good". Responding to the publication of the resources, various pressure groups agreed that churches should welcome LGBTI people, but differed on how that should be accomplished.

In September 2022, the Church of England marked the beginning of a period of "discernment and decision-making" by publishing three documents that report the experiences of those in the process.

Also that month, the Diocese of Hereford refused a request to allow Mpho Tutu van Furth, an Anglican priest, to conduct a funeral in the diocese because she is married to a woman.

In October 2022, Canterbury Cathedral announced that David Monteith, who is gay and in a civil partnership, had been appointed to serve as the next Cathedral Dean; Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, commented saying, “I’m delighted by David’s appointment as Dean of Canterbury."

In November 2022, Steven Croft (Bishop of Oxford) became the most senior Church of England figure to back same-sex marriage, saying clergy should be free to bless or marry same-sex partners and to enter into a same-sex marriage themselves, in contrast to the Church's official position. His statement was supported by suffragan bishops of the Diocese of Oxford: Alan Wilson, Olivia Graham and Gavin Collins. The same month, John Inge (Bishop of Worcester) and Martin Gorick (Bishop of Dudley) sent an open letter to clergy in the Diocese of Worcester that stated that "the time has come for the Church to celebrate and honour same sex relations" and called "for same sex couples to be able to be married in Church".

In January 2023, the House of Bishops of the Church of England announced it would be proposing the introduction of blessings for same-sex couples at the next meeting of the General Synod, known as "Prayers of Love and Faith", but that the Church's teachings in relation to marriage, i.e. one man and one woman, would not change: