Future Church of England bishops to be quizzed on their sex lives It is unlikely, however, that these will fall within the scope of the Church of England's hiring procedures. Details of the new requirement emerged in a written answer to a question before the Church's governing General Synod. It follows the disclosure last month that, under new arrangements agreed by the House of Bishops, people in same-sex civil partnerships must satisfy either the Archbishop of Canterbury or York that they are not sleeping with their partner before they can become a bishop. Similar arrangements are in place for divorced clergy being considered for episcopal appointment. The Rev Canon Giles Goddard of St John's church in Waterloo, central London, asked why such "assurances" are sought only from clerics in civil partnerships or divorcees. William Fittall, the Secretary General to the General Synod, replied that the questions for divorcees were are "to determine that there are no issues from the breakdown of the previous marriage that might constitute an obstacle to episcopal appointment." He added: "In relation to civil partnership the test is of a different character namely whether someone's conduct is and will remain consistent with the teaching of the Church of England. But, he explained: "To avoid the appearance of discrimination that assurance is in fact now sought in relation to all candidates for episcopal appointment."