wfn.org | Episcopalians: Canadian bishops divided on blessing same-gender relationships

[dmack@episcopalchurch.org]

October 31, 2002

2002-252

Episcopalians: Canadian bishops divided on blessing 
same-gender relationships

by James Solheim

(ENS) In the wake of a controversial decision last June by the 
Anglican Church of Canada's Diocese of New Westminster to 
develop a liturgy for blessing same-gender relationships, the 
church's bishops have acknowledged their deep divisions. 

Bishop Michael Ingham said at the October 25-29 meeting in 
Mississauga, Ontario, that three parishes have formally asked 
for a rite for blessings and, despite pleas from some bishops 
for a delay, he said that he had given his approval "and we are 
proceeding."

After three days of closed debate on the situation, a 
subcommittee drafted a "message to the church" that admitted the 
bishops were not able "to speak with a unanimous voice on this 
issue of national concern, especially with regard to the subject 
of homosexuality in the light of Scripture." The statement urged 
the diocese and eight parishes that walked out of the synod 
meeting to express their opposition to seek reconciliation 
"before the fracture widens."

The statement recommended that all bishops uphold the 1997 
guidelines on human sexuality that concluded that bishops "do 
not accept the blessing of homosexual unions." During an open 
session several bishops sought assurances from Ingham that he 
would not proceed with the blessings, warning that he risked 
breaking communion with a large part of the Anglican world. When 
it came time to vote 28 bishops voted for the statement and nine 
voted against. Ingham abstained.

Local option not Anglican way

While in Toronto to receive an honorary doctorate, Archbishop 
of Canterbury George Carey warned Archbishop Michael Peers, 
primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the bishops to 
proceed carefully and to consult others in the Anglican 
Communion. "It has to be faced and in a generous context of 
understanding, that there is a very strong orthodox position 
that prevails in the world today," he said.

"The local option is not the Anglican way of doing things," 
he said in repeating a warning that dioceses taking unilateral 
action risk causing schism. At the recent meeting of the 
Anglican Consultative Council in Hong Kong, Carey publicly 
censured New Westminster for making controversial decisions on 
its own. He also raised the issue of "major ecumenical 
consequences" for such actions.

Carey admitted that "homosexuals have had a very bad deal in 
the church," adding that he wished he could see a way to bless 
same-sex unions "but I can't bless what God doesn't."

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(Text of the Message to the Church is on the Anglican Communion 
web site at www.anglicancommunion.org/acns.)

--James Solheim is director of Episcopal News Service. This 
article is based on accounts in the Anglican Journal, newspaper 
of the Anglican Church of Canada.