wfn.org | ACNS3453 Rite of Blessing authorised in Diocese of New

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ACNS 3453	     |		 CANADA      |		 29 MAY 2003	

Rite of Blessing authorised in Diocese of New Westminster

[Diocese of New Westminster, Anglican Church of Canada] Clergy in six
parishes within the Diocese of New Westminster have been authorised to
perform a rite of blessing of committed same sex unions. In so doing, all
provisions of the motion passed by Diocesan Synod in June, 2002, are now
fulfilled.

That motion (Motion 7) requested that Bishop Michael Ingham authorise a rite
of blessing of homosexual couples.

It was the third time the synod had by majority vote requested the rite. The
bishop did not consent to the request in 1998 and 2001, but did consent last
year.

Parishes authorised to use the rite are the following: St Margaret's, St
Mark's, St Paul's, and Christ Church Cathedral, all in Vancouver; St Agnes,
North Vancouver; and St Laurence, Coquitlam. The bishop issued the rite of
blessing to the parishes on Friday 23 May, in advance of the Diocesan Synod,
May 30-31.

In a letter accompanying the rite, Bishop Ingham distinguished between the
blessing of gays and lesbians, and marriage, which in the church is a
sacrament for heterosexual couples.

"This is not a marriage ceremony, but a blessing of permanent and faithful
commitments between persons of the same sex in order that they may have the
support and encouragement of the church in their lives together under God."

He stated that couples who seek the blessing must receive preparation and
instruction, and be supported and sustained by the parish throughout their
lives together.

"The church recognises that homosexual couples face the same challenges and
share the same responsibilities as other people in living out the costly
demands of love," said the bishop in his letter.

"Our purpose is to encourage and strengthen fidelity and mutual
supportiveness in family life on which the stability of our wider society
depends."

The synod's motion last year required that blessings will take place only
after a favourable vote of the parish Vestry, and the agreement of the
priests involved.

To date, the six parishes (of 80 in the diocese) are the only ones to have
held Vestry meetings and requested that their churches become a place where
same sex blessings occur. In each case, the priests involved are willing to
perform the rite. When the blessing takes place is a pastoral matter to be
determined by the priest in each parish.

The bishop noted that two days after he had issued the rite of blessing, a
statement by the Primates of the Anglican Communion meeting in Brazil stated
that "as a body" the Primates could not support a blessing of same sex
unions.

He said he was not surprised that the Primates could not agree on the matter,
since divisions within the Communion have been in evidence since the last
Lambeth Conference in 1998.

"The Primates are faithfully reflecting the lack of theological consensus in
the Communion," he said. "And yet they are also recognising that gay and
lesbian Christians are part of the church and are not going away."

Bishop Ingham said that he and his diocese agreed with the Primates that
there is a "duty of pastoral care that is laid upon all Christians to respond
with love and understanding to people of all sexual orientations." 

The rite of blessing of homosexual couples is the pastoral response which the
Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster had requested three times - in 1998,
2001, and 2002 - and to which he gave his consent last year.

The following is the text of a letter from the Rt Revd Michael Ingham, Bishop
of the Diocese of New Westminster, which was sent to six parishes in the
diocese authorising a rite of blessing of committed same sex couples. The
rite and other materials will be posted on the diocesan web site at
www.vancouver.anglican.ca: 

May 23, 2003 

Dear Friends in Christ: 

Please find enclosed a Rite for the Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Covenants
which I am authorizing for use in the Parish of [Parish Name] in accordance
with Motion 7 of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster 2002. 

This is not a marriage ceremony, but a blessing of permanent and faithful
commitments between persons of the same sex in order that they may have the
support and encouragement of the church in their lives together under God. 

In taking this step, the diocese is affirming our belief "as Christians that
homosexual persons are created in the image and likeness of God and have a
full and equal claim, with all other persons, upon the love, acceptance,
concern and pastoral care of the church. The gospel of Jesus Christ compels
Christians to guard against all forms of human injustice and to affirm that
all persons are brothers and sisters for whom Christ died." (Canadian House
of Bishops Guidelines, October 1997) 

Homosexual persons, like all persons, take strength and comfort from the
overwhelming witness of Scripture to the unconditional love of God. The Bible
urges the church to put into practice the compassion of Jesus towards all who
suffer prejudice, discrimination and rejection because of their particular
human differences and uniqueness. This Rite of Blessing is one response to
that clear biblical imperative. 

Couples who seek this service of the church should be adequately prepared and
instructed by the clergy beforehand, and supported and sustained by the
Christian community afterwards. In offering its care in this way, the church
recognizes that homosexual couples face the same challenges and share the
same responsibilities as other people in living out the costly demands of
love. Our purpose is to encourage and strengthen fidelity and mutual
supportiveness in family life on which the stability of our wider society
depends. 

Thank you for your willingness to extend the church's pastoral ministry in
this way. May God grant joy and prosperity to all who rightfully receive it. 

Kindest regards, 

The Right Reverend Michael Ingham 

For further information please contact: 

Neale Adams 
Communications Officer 
Diocese of New Westminster 

Email: nadams@vancouver.anglican.ca 
www.vancouver.anglican.ca

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