Members of the Church of England’s General Synod have concluded two days of informal talks on human sexuality. The private sessions, which followed the weekend’s formal meeting of the Synod in York, conclude a two-year programme of “shared conversations” throughout the Church of England.

On Friday, the Church Commissioners for England confirmed that they have provided £300,000 GBP to fund the cost of the conversations; and that the remaining – undisclosed – cost will be funded by the dioceses.

The C of E said that the conversations were designed to allow people to “reflect together on scripture and a changing culture in relation to their understanding of human sexuality” and that no change in policy or doctrine would be forthcoming as part of the process.

While the shared conversations took place, the Synod’s business committee declined to bring forward for debate two Private Members Motions on the issue. Those motions lapsed in July last year when the quinquennium came to an end.

Seven years after the first Consultation of Anglican Bishops in Dialogue was held at the Anglican Communion offices in London, England, in 2010, a record 24 bishops – including four primates – came together in Accra, Ghana, from 25 – 29 May to learn about the unique contexts and challenges different parts of the African, North American and English churches are facing. In a testimony released following the consultation, titled “Unity in Diversity,” the bishops looked back on what has been accomplished since 2010, and said that in order to build a stronger sense of unity, the Communion needs to turn to the past.