For my part, I do wish that the PTC had done more work on the definition of doctrine and the nature of doctrinal development. Nevertheless, I want to reflect a little bit on where the issue of same-sex blessings fits in this spectrum between core doctrine and adiaphora, leaving aside the question of whether or not same-sex blessings are \u201ccommanded or forbidden by God\u2019s word.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
There are many beliefs that are rightly \u201d\u017dunderstood as \u201cdoctrinal\u201d\u009d in that they represent the \u201d\u017dacknowledged teaching of the Anglican Church and are essential to its identity, polity (that is, structure and organisation) and mission.<\/p>\n
The SMR rightly observes that an issue like same-sex unions, while not itself a matter of core doctrine, carries strong implications for central doctrines such as what it means for human beings to be made in the image of God, salvation and marriage. So it would be a serious misreading of the intent of the report to isolate the category of \u201ccore doctrine\u201d\u009d and claim that because same-sex unions are not to be categorized as such, they are not important enough to require greater consensus in the Anglican Church\u2019s deliberations.<\/p>\n