Australia’s most senior Anglican, Melbourne Archbishop Dr Philip Freier, referred that decision to the church’s internal appellate tribunal in September.<\/p>\n
The tribunal was asked to consider whether the regulation was consistent under the church’s national constitution and valid under canon law.<\/p>\n
The tribunal then called for submissions on the matter.<\/p>\n
A second referral – to be considered concurrently – asked the tribunal to decide more generally if blessing services other than for heterosexual unions should be allowed.<\/p>\n
In her address to the Wangaratta synod in August, which forms part of the diocese’s submissions to the tribunal, Reverend Dorothy Lee argued the blessing of same-sex Christian couples “seems a small thing to ask”.<\/p>\n
“There are no theological grounds for refusing to bless civil unions,” Rev Lee said.<\/p>\n
“On the contrary, faithful and loving Christian couples, whatever their sexual orientation, gender, race or class, should be able to ask for and receive the church’s blessing.”<\/p>\n
However, of the 33 other submissions to the tribunal, just four support blessing same-sex marriages.<\/p>\n