Chris Ambidge, national spokesman for an Anglican group that supports same-sex unions, said the national meeting sent mixed messages to Anglicans across Canada and was confusing to everyone who voted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is wrong with having rights of blessing when you\u2019ve already said it\u2019s OK?\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cI just don\u2019t understand that.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Primate-elect Frederick Hiltz said the vote\u2019s outcome showed that several bishops still want to wait and study the issue further. He said there will be an ongoing conversation about same-sex unions and that it will likely come up again at the next national meeting. Hiltz said the few parishes who were previously granted the right to bless same-sex unions in the church\u2019s New Westminster diocese will continue to do so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reality is we have a very divided Synod over this issue and that\u2019s respective of a very divided church,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s no doubt that many people are disappointed as a result of the vote.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The split threatens to divide Anglicans on either side, even forcing them to leave or switch churches.<\/p>\n
Cheryl Chang, a spokesperson for Anglican Essentials, a group which opposes blessing same-sex unions, called Sunday\u2019s vote a \u201cdivisive tragedy\u201d\u009d for the entire church.<\/p>\n
Although opponents of same-sex unions ultimately won, Chang said doctrine devotees believe blessing same-sex unions contradicts the church\u2019s core doctrine. She said people who love scripture might look to the Catholic Church or other organized religions instead.<\/p>\n