The majority of the Anglican Diocese of B.C. representatives are in favour of the church blessing same-sex marriages, and have urged their delegates to the national conference that will decide the issue to approve the controversial topic which is splitting the church.
A survey of delegates today at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria comes at a sensitive time in the Anglican church worldwide. Schisms have developed between countries with large Anglican populations over whether the church should bless same-sex marriages.
One hundred and two delegates at a special session for representatives from Vancouver Island and Gulf Island churches said they are in favour of same-sex unions being blessed. They want the issue dealt with in Winnipeg June 19-25 at the national synod, an assembly of church leaders or delegates that discusses and decides upon church affairs.
“It’s clear the church is moving forward,” said Rev. Peter Elliott, a keynote speaker at the meeting here and the highest-ranking openly gay cleric in the Anglican Church of Canada.
“The Anglican Church is a big tent. We love and celebrate diversity, and people have the freedom of expressing their convictions.”
The 102 people who voted in favour of same-sex marriages being blessed and wanted the issue dealt with at the synod represented 51.7 per cent of the delegates.
Another 27 people voted in favour of same-sex unions being blessed, but thought the issue should wait.
A total of 45 people said they should never be blessed, and 19 delegates were unsure.
The survey was taken so the 10 delegates representing the area at the national conference would know local thought on the issue.
“It is useful for us to know the mindset of the synod delegates as a whole,” said Martin Henry, one of the delegates.
This is really sad. The numbers on the screen do not reflect the Anglicans in the Diocese of British Columbia who desire to be a part of an orthodox, world-wide Church. Having been an active layman in this diocese for most of my life, and sustain friendships with parishioners throughout the diocese, I don’t think that this is an issue that is really perceived to be of pressing concern to “the man in the pewâ€.
The video that the Synod Office distributed to the parishes in the Diocese of BC to foster discussion about the blessing of same-sex unions would make anyone beginning to think seriously about this matter feel like an idiot if he or she didn’t voice his or her support for blessing same-sex unions. This is similar to the attitude taken
The report from this synod is disappointing and provides a twisted view of the church of my baptism, I pray, and not a view of the twisted church of my baptism.
As Johnnie Carson used to say, I’ll let you give me the answer if I can choose the question. This isn’t far different.
I should say!