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Anglican Church of Canada General Synod: Q and A on the blessing of same-sex relationships

Posted on June 19, 2007 by Kendall Harmon

From the ACC News:

What is the situation now in the church with same-blessings? With same-sex marriage?
Same Sex Blessings: Officially the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada has requested that all dioceses refrain from permission for the blessing of same-sex unions until General Synod 2007. The Diocese of New Westminster has permitted those parishes that had been granted permission up to that point to continue to do so but has granted no new permissions. The Diocese of Niagara voted at its Synod in 2004 to permit the blessing of same-sex unions in parishes that had approved ”“ however, the Bishop (as is the Bishop’s right) withheld permission at this time.

Same ”“Sex Marriage: The Anglican Church of Canada has not, in any diocese, granted permission for clergy to perform same-sex marriages.

What is the situation now in New Westminster?
After 3 successive Synods requesting permission for same-sex blessings by increasing majorities, BishopMichael Ingham granted permission in 2002 for blessings to occur in parishes where the membership of the parish has studied and voted to permit them to occur in that parish. When the House of Bishops requested a moratorium on permission for same-sex blessings the Bishop of New Westminster withheld any further parish permissions but allowed those previously granted to continue.

Read it all.

Posted in * Anglican - Episcopal, Anglican Church of Canada, Anglican Provinces, Canadian General Synod 2007, Same-sex blessings, Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion)

5 comments on “Anglican Church of Canada General Synod: Q and A on the blessing of same-sex relationships”

  1. edistobeachwalker says:
    June 19, 2007 at 2:31 am

    So why would Archbishop Williams invite Michael Ingham to Lambeth 2008, and to do it BEFORE the Anglican General Synod? It makes a bad situation worse it seems to me.

  2. Tom Roberts says:
    June 19, 2007 at 3:10 am

    #1 edistobeachwalker
    Because Ingham was appropriately consecrated an Anglican bishop. The reason why some bishops were not invited concerns their questionable consecrations (e.g. VGR, Minns).

  3. Mike Bertaut says:
    June 19, 2007 at 3:31 am

    St. Michael’s Report Summary Item #9:

    Culture is the context in which Christians live out their faith and formulate doctrine. The challenge facing the Church is to see our cultural norms through the eyes of Christ and then, out of allegiance to him, to promote those norms that honour him and renounce those that do not.

    This is the most backwards thing I’ve ever read. Culture should be SHAPED by faith in Christ and in His Service, not the other way around. If we cannot motivate culture by our belief, love, and faith, what chance have we?

    KTF!…mrb

  4. Henry says:
    June 19, 2007 at 6:33 am

    You have got it exactly right in #3 above, mrb! Would that the bishops, et al would understand that!

  5. Dr. Priscilla Turner says:
    June 19, 2007 at 6:47 am

    Perhaps you would all intercede for our General Synod, which starts tomorrow. “That kind comes not out but by prayer and fasting.”