Bishop John Chapman of Ottawa said Friday that regardless of the outcome of a motion asking him to allow same-sex blessings in the diocese he expects clergy and laity to “continue their work and ministry embracing our differences rather than fretting over them.”
In the bishop’s charge during an opening eucharist of the 125th session of the diocesan synod of Ottawa, Bishop Chapman explained that the motion on same-sex blessings is asking the bishop, not the diocese, to decide on whether same-gender unions should be allowed.
The synod is expected to debate and act on the motion before the end of its two-day synod Saturday, Oct. 13. 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 motion is asking the synod of the diocese of Ottawa to make a recommendation to the bishop regarding the blessing of those civilly married according to the laws of the government of Ontario,” said Bishop Chapman. “Please be aware that this motion is calling for a recommendation in the positive or in the negative. The diocese is not being asked to make the decision.”
“Bishop John Chapman of Ottawa said Friday that regardless of the outcome of a motion asking him to affirm Jesus as a created man who, admittedly, said some really cool things, he expects clergy and laity to ‘continue their work and ministry embracing our differences rather than fretting over them.'”
Say a prayer for those poor Arian saps, drummed out of the Church just because the ignorant clerics of the day had not yet been moved by the Holy Spirit to embrace differences rather than hold councils and write creeds.
So basically, Bishop Chapman is saying that no matter what goes on in the Synod, his priests are telling him:
“Please +John, tell us that it is OK for us to be doing what we are doing, but in any case, if you don’t tell us that we are OK in doing what we are doing, we’ll do it anyway.”
Apparantly, Bishop Chapman is OK with that.
I live in Ottawa, and I have friends who are priests. What really stood out for me was the “diligent oversight” of clergy. Judging from his behaviour so far, I would suggest that “diligent oversight” ought to be translated as “toe the line or else”. Pray for us, we surely need it.