This is a report on the role of an independent commission in understanding the relationship between the Anglican communion and laws criminalising consensual same-sex intimacy between adults. This Study was carried out by the authors in conjunction with the Institute of Public Affairs based at the London School of Economics and Political Science in London between January and May 2016. It stemmed from conversations over several months in 2015.
The purpose of the research was to consider the role, both historic and current, of the Anglican Communion, and individual provinces and churches that make up the Communion, in efforts to bring about the decriminalisation of same-sex sexual conduct between consenting adults. It asked a simple question: should an independent commission be set up to look at all aspects of criminalisation and seek ways in which Anglicans can come to a better understanding of these issues and how they can engage with governments, legislatures and the public in countries which criminalise?