An Anglican pastor has quit the church and is taking his congregation with him after the governing body moved ahead with plans to bless same-sex relationships.
Charlie Hughes, the former vicar of St Michael’s in Henderson, says he cannot reconcile the decision of the church to recognise same sex relationships with his ordination vows.
He said the vows were a pledge to uphold the constitution of the Anglican Church. The constitution states it is “not lawful to ordain anything contrary to God’s word written”.
“It’s not because we have a problem with people who are in a same sex relationship but because of the commitment we have to shaping our lives around the teachings of the Bible,” Mr Hughes said.
………
Mr Hughes said he knew of other churches in which rifts had formed.
“There is a large body of Anglican clergy who are convinced this is the wrong way to go.”
There was also a group of lawyers ”” including two QCs ”” who were working on a legal challenge to the church’s move.
Axios!
I’m so confused. According to Peter Carrell:
[blockquote]We are a church with the full spectrum of Anglican commitments on these and other matters. That spectrum is well represented at the General Synod. For our church to come to the resolution it has a most careful process of respectful listening has taken place and close study of the resolution makes it clear that the place of conservatives in our church has been recognised in ways appropriate to ourselves – please don’t read “North America†into “Down Underâ€![/blockquote]
And:
[blockquote]Well we have lived together now as Anglicans Down Under with huge differences in theology. We are bound together by many things, including simple human relationality. Differences in theology can be over-rated. I have sometimes found that actual talking over a coffee can yield common ground I did not think existed. We are, of course, bound together by serving under our diocesan bishops. Being good Anglicans … and our bishops generally take care to hold us together. [/blockquote]
And:
[blockquote] My sense is that we will stick together because we have had good representation at the Synod.[/blockquote]
But hey — it’s two weeks later and that was then and this is now.
Peter was delivering th TEc playbook account then or indulging in fantasy or medicated, but certainly incorrect! What’s in that coffee?