wfn.org | Canadian Anglican Synod Defers Decisions on Blessings

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3839     |     CANADA     |     3 JUNE 2004

Canadian Synod defers decision on blessings

[ACNS Source: Anglican Church of Canada]

By Marites N Sison
Staff Writer: Anglican Journal

St Catharines, Ont. - Deeply divided over liberalizing church attitudes
toward homosexuals, Canadian Anglicans meeting at their triennial
governing convention here voted to defer a decision on whether gay
relationships should be blessed in church.

Members of the General Synod approved a revised version of a resolution
that originally would have given dioceses the authority to allow
same-sex blessing ceremonies.

The new version asks the Primate's Theological Commission to "review,
consider and report by spring 2006 whether the blessing of committed,
same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine." Established in 1995, the
Primate's Theological Commission has studied questions of biblical
interpretation and produced several books on Anglican expressions of the
Christian faith.

In earlier sessions of debate, several delegates and table groups noted
that if the issue is a matter of doctrine, or faith interpretation, then
General Synod, not the dioceses, should deal with it. They also asked
whether it is merely a matter of practice, or pastoral care, that could
be left to individual dioceses. The decision would have given dioceses a
so-called "local option."

The resolution passed also requests "that the issue of the blessing of
committed same-sex unions be considered at the meeting of General Synod
in 2007." The original motion approved "the authority and jurisdiction
of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of its bishop, to authorize
the blessing of committed same-sex unions."

Robert Falby, chancellor (legal expert) with the diocese of Toronto,
introduced the revision. "We perceived that the house wished to have the
question of doctrine clarified," he said. Members of General Synod
agreed, but not overwhelmingly. Clergy and laity voted 142-118 and
bishops voted 22-12 in favour of deferral.

Synod voted to postpone until Thursday debate on a motion brought by
Canon Garth Bulmer of Ottawa that would "affirm the integrity and
sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships." He added that the
church can say to gay couples, "yes, we care." The Revd Michael Li of
Central Newfoundland argued against the addition, saying, "it is a
mistake to pass this motion; to me it is not much different from a
same-sex blessing."

Those supporting deferring the local option vote included the Revd Gene
Packwood of Calgary, who said "we get to stay in communion with the
worldwide Anglican Communion, work toward consensus, protect Anglican
minorities worldwide and, personally, I won't have to do pastoral damage
control when I get home." The Ven Larry Beardy, Archdeacon of Keewatin,
who is Cree, said some of the concepts in the text "are foreign to us"
adding, "if you approve it we will once again be left behind."

Those who spoke in favour of immediate action on the local option
included the Ven Pat Johnston, Archdeacon of Ottawa, who asked, "What is
it we are afraid of and how long shall we wait?" The Most Revd Terence
Finlay, the Archbishop of Toronto said that delay "dissipates energy and
leaves some of my priests and lay people in a wilderness of secrecy and
hypocrisy." The Revd James Pratt, of Western Newfoundland, noting that
"Cow Head is not Vancouver," said 90 per cent of the people in his
parish have never met an openly gay or lesbian person and will not be
any further in favour of blessing same-sex unions three years hence. He
urged action now.

Integrity, an organization of gay Anglicans and supporters, said in a
statement following the vote that postponing a decision on blessings
means the church "is refusing to respond to an increasingly urgent
pastoral need in our community and hindering any evangelistic work or
witness among the lesbian and gay community."

In a press release, Integrity added, "We have to ask what three more
years will add to the decades of work that the church has already been
engaged in. . This horse has been led to water again and again and
again, and now is complaining that it is thirsty."

A spokesman for Essentials, a coalition of conservative Anglicans, the
Revd James Wagner said he was "pleased with the motion to defer because
it represents the theology of this matter and the unity of the church."

Since the motion does not address the question of diocesan authority,
the Rt Revd Michael Ingham, the Bishop of New Westminster, the only
Canadian diocese officially offering blessings to gay couples, said his
diocese would continue on its course. "It's a reasonable compromise," he
said of the revised motion, and "reflects where we (New Westminster)
were in 1998," when his diocesan synod first considered the question. At
that time, he withheld his consent, only giving it in 2002 when a wider
margin of the synod approved.

Bishop Ingham also said the motion does not prevent another diocese from
offering blessings. Toronto is scheduled to consider the question of
same-sex blessings in November at a special meeting of synod and Ottawa
and Niagara dioceses are expected to do so in the near future.

Archbishop Finlay said, "It is up to the (diocesan) synod to decide. A
number of us have supported a local option. Some congregations would
like to seek permission from the bishop (to offer same-sex blessings)."

The vote came during the third session of debate on the contentious
issue currently dividing the worldwide Anglican church. Anglican
churches in Africa and Asia, who consider homosexuality contrary to
biblical teaching, have condemned the Canadian church and the Episcopal
Church in the United States.

At the opening of synod, the Revd Canon Gregory Cameron, director of
ecumenical affairs and studies at the Anglican Communion Office in
London, acknowledged the Canadian church's right to decide the matter
but warned that a "yes" vote to same-sex blessings means "the Anglican
Church of Canada refuses to hear the voice and to heed the concerns of
your fellow Anglicans in the global south."

Other parts of the motion - which were passed - affirmed that "through
our baptism we are members one of another in Christ Jesus" and promised
to strive for communion, noted the value of "continued respectful
dialogue and study" of the issue, affirmed respect for the pace of
dialogue in indigenous communities over the issue and requested the
house of bishops to continue its work on alternate episcopal oversight
for those who are disaffected by church decisions.

The full text of the motion is available on the church's web site:
http://www.anglican.ca/

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