Notwithstanding the fact that the 2007 General Synod defeated a resolution, “affirming the authority and jurisdiction of a diocesan synod with the concurrence of its bishop and in a manner respecting the conscience of the incumbent and the will of the parish to authorize the blessing of same sex unions,” three dioceses — Ottawa, Montreal and Niagara — have since voted by strong majorities to request their bishop to consider authorizing public rites for the blessing of same-sex couples who are civilly married.
I believe these resolutions present an opportunity to test the mind of the local church and the results speak of a pastoral need that cannot be ignored. In each case the bishop has indicated that he will consult widely before making a decision.
General Synod 2007 also concurred by resolution with the opinion of the St. Michael Report that the blessing of same-sex unions should not be a communion-breaking issue. Nonetheless some people feel compelled to leave our church over this issue. Their decision is regrettable given the fact that the bishops have made adequate and appropriate provision for the pastoral care and episcopal support of all members of our church including those who find themselves in conscientious disagreement with the view of their bishop and synod. These provisions are contained in a document known as Shared Episcopal Ministry approved by the House of Bishops in November 2004 and commended in September 2006 by an international Panel of Reference appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
In light of these provisions, as well as of ancient canons of the church, statements of successive Lambeth Conferences, the Lambeth Commission on Communion (the Windsor Report), and the 2005 and 2007 communiqués from the Primates, we believe that recent interventions by another province in the internal life of our church are unnecessary and inappropriate.
Wow I don’t know what he’s been smoking, but it must be good stuff! The ‘don’t do it!’ from the primates apparently means ‘well why not!’
What we have here is a press release by a Bishop who knows full well most of the laity in his diocese have not read anything from Lambeth, the Primates or any church history.
Jon R
So, what the instruments of unity said about same sex blessings doesn’t really matter but what they said about border crossings does. These people can’t be this dumb so I must believe that they are just arrogant. They pick and choose in Scripture, church history and Communion statements.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the 2007 General Synod defeated a resolution, “affirming the authority and jurisdiction of a diocesan synod with the concurrence of its bishop and in a manner respecting the conscience of the incumbent and the will of the parish to authorize the blessing of same sex unions,” three dioceses — Ottawa, Montreal and Niagara — have since voted by strong majorities to request their bishop to consider authorizing public rites for the blessing of same-sex couples who are civilly married.”
Well, if three dioceses can wilfully defy a synodic decision of the Canadian Church’s General Synod, then the Canadian Church isn’t episcopal in governance.
Maybe they should change their church’s name to something with Congregationalist in it.
And were do those who are taking the communion breaking activity get to say that it is not communion breaking? Is that not the prerogative of the wider communion?
He: “Dear, I am going to commit adultery, but that is not a marriage breaking issue.”
She: “Think again!”