The diocese of Ottawa’s regularly scheduled synod will decide Oct. 12-13 whether to request its bishop to grant permission for clergy to bless same-sex relationships.
It is the first diocese to consider the matter since the triennial General Synod, the Anglican Church of Canada’s national governing body, agreed in June that same-sex blessings are “not in conflict” with core church doctrine, but declined by a slim margin to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer them.
The Ottawa motion, moved by Ron Chaplin, a member of the diocese’s branch of Integrity, a support group for gay Anglicans, and Canon Garth Bulmer, rector of St. John the Evangelist, reads: “Be it resolved that this synod requests that the bishop grant permission for clergy, whose conscience permits, to bless duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples, where one party is baptized; and that he authorizes an appropriate rite and guidelines for its use in supportive parishes.”
The new diocesan bishop, John Chapman, said in a statement that if the motion passes, “it will leave the matter with the bishop to render a decision.”
This is the worst time for this to come out. Just the news of the proposal will put steel in the spines of the reasserters, and likewise of the reappraisers. Nothing happens in a vacuum: this Ottawa news will indeed have an effect in New Orleans.
More flouting of the Anglican Communion’s teaching from North America. Yuck.
The synod is free to ask for anything it wishes. That’s freedom. But the bishop will have to decide whether the proposal will be approved.
Limousine rental: $400
Tuxedos for the groom and groom: $600
All-boy revue at the reception: $1000
Ottawa announcing plans to bless same-sex couples precisely at the moment the US House of Bishops meets with the Archbishop of Canterbury to discuss compliance with the Dar es Salaam Communique? Priceless.
Quesion: Does”bless same-sex couples” mean “married?” Are they the same thing? If they do marry homosexuals, will all of TEC be forced to agree that they are married? If this is is some sense true, will this not open the gates to massive defection? Another question: If they are married, will not the diocese, or somebody official, have to answer the question, “Does this mean that the church sanctions sodomy?” Is there someone who is likely to be heard in the AC who will ask this question, since it is, one would think, rather important.
If you were the ABC, would you not be furious with such an announcement at this time?
Larry
#5, Larry, I think ANY Communion-minded, faithful Anglican is made furious by these schismatic actions.
Virgil – Bishop Chapman is not going to refuse to consider it. His first public act as co-adjutor was to celebrate Eucharist at an Integrity function with a known partnered lesbian in orders who was denied a license by the then diocesan.
I would still like to have my question answered. Does “bless same-sex couples” mearn Married? LM