Canada

The Anglican Church of Canada agreed last week not to take any legislative action in response to differing views on same-sex blessings.

Rather, they chose to have "more conversation," said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.

"That's an action," Hiltz insisted, according to the Anglican Journal. more >>

Anglicans in Canada have been continuing a period of discernment and conversations over human sexuality issues. And so far, they have agreed to respect a commitment they made years ago against the ordination of partnered homosexuals and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said the church body remains mindful of its relationship with the worldwide Anglican Communion and committed to the 2008 decision to practice restraint in regards to homosexual matters while at the same time exercising "the greatest level of pastoral generosity."

"We have not as a house revisited or altered that decision in any way," he said, as he addressed members of the General Synod – the chief legislative body – over the weekend. more >>

The council of Canada’s largest city voted this past week to hold off on deciding whether or not to lift a ban on the operation of retail stores during holidays, and won’t likely make a decision until after the Oct. 25 elections.

Currently, Toronto law bans retail stores from opening on public holidays including New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Easter Sunday and Family Day. The law, Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 510 Holiday Shopping, traces to a 1677 English law that made Sunday a Christian holy day and barred profane activities.

“I think God’s law has to be talked about,” said Catholic city council member Giorgio Mammoliti, who opposed the recommendation to end the ban, arguing in defense of Christmas, Good Friday and Easter Sunday as sacred days. more >>

Canadian Anglicans have agreed to move ahead with the disestablishment of several churches, according to an announcement Monday.

The closing of more than a dozen parishes is part of a major overhaul in the Diocese of British Columbia as it faces declining membership and a post-Christian society.

The 93rd Synod, the highest legislative body, agreed in principle with the intention and urgency of the Diocesan Transformation Team Report, which was released in January. more >>

After more than thirty years of membership decline, Anglicans in Canada have decided to face the crisis and no longer have any "head-in-the-sand" denial, as one priest put it.

"Flood warnings have been issued, the waters are rising, and as a Diocese, we are beginning to act," said the Rev. Peter Parker, who is part of a team that was commissioned to make recommendations on how to reverse decline.

"We are leading the Canadian Church in facing the crisis that all Dioceses are facing," he added, according to the Diocesan Post. more >>

The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada began on Tuesday defending in court the rights of religious organizations to hire people based on their religious beliefs.

In the landmark religious freedom case Heintz v. Christian Horizons, the Superior Court of Ontario will consider whether to uphold an earlier ruling that a faith-based organization involved in social work cannot require an employee to share its same religious beliefs and service commitment.

If the Superior Court does uphold the ruling, then it will significantly impact the operations and identities of churches, Christian public service organizations, denominations and higher education institutions across Canada, the EFC warned. more >>