Canadian Anglicans to Vote on Blessing of Gay Unions
More than 400 Anglicans have gathered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a critical assembly that may finally decide on whether their church should allow or reject the blessing of same-sex unions.
If the Anglican Church of Canada's highest governing body, the General Synod, chooses to allow same-sex blessings, one delegate believes it would tear the fabric of the Anglican community "at its deepest level," said Sheila Vanderputten of the Diocese of Calgary to CBC News.
"The primates (Anglican leaders) have really been strong in telling us that we may have to choose to walk apart if we go against our 2,000 years plus of history of Christianity according to scripture," she added.
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The majority of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion has been distressed by recent actions in North America, including the authorization of blessing same-sex unions within a diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada in May 2003 and the consecration of an openly gay bishop by The Episcopal Church in the United States that same year.
General Synod 2004 deferred the decision on whether to allow the blessing of same-sex unions until the next meeting in 2007. During those three years, the Anglican Theological Commission was asked to review the matter and determine whether the blessing is a matter of doctrine.
Since the last General Synod, Canada became the third country to legalize same-sex "marriage." But this year, the General Synod will only deal with the blessing of same-sex partnerships and not marriage.
Delegates are scheduled to vote on a "local parish" option on Saturday, meaning if the General Synod were to permit the blessing of same-sex unions, each local diocese and bishop would have authority to decide whether to allow blessings in their area.
Currently, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada has requested that all diocese refrain from permitting the blessing of same-sex unions until General Synod 2007. The Diocese of New Westminster has permitted parishes that had been granted permission to continue to bless homosexual unions but has not granted any new ones.
While the Anglican Church of Canada has not, in any diocese, granted permission for clergy to perform same-sex marriages, Toronto's Church of the Holy Trinity, which already exercises the authority of blessing same-sex unions, plans to go further and perform gay "marriage" ceremonies.
"I think we're going to be consistent and move in that direction," the Rev. Jim Ferry told the Star. "Our parish is not about to go backwards."
Ferry's comments echo that of U.S. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori who recently told The Boston Globe that The Episcopal Church will not likely be moving "backward" on their 2003 decision to elect an openly gay bishop.
"I don't believe that there is any will in this church to move backward," the Epsicopal head stated as she called the 2003 election "a great blessing."
The Episcopal Church faces a Sept. 30 deadline to respond to requests made by Primates (Anglican leaders) in February to make an unequivocal pledge not to consecrate another openly gay bishop or authorize same-sex blessings.
Such a request has not been made of the Anglican Church of Canada considering it has not made any decisions for the whole Canadian Church. This year's General Synod, however, may change that.
"If ever a General Synod needed prayer it is this one," said a statement released by delegates of the Diocese of Calgary.
Delegates of General Synod 2007 will also be voting on Friday to elect a new Canada Primate. Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, the current Primate, had announced his retirement which is effective June 22. The new Primate will be formally installed in office on June 25.
The Anglican Church of Canada's General Synod meets every three years. This year's gathering, themed "Draw the Circle Wide. Draw It Wider Still," takes place June 19-25.
