Statement regarding the Reporting on the Action of the Anglican Bishops relating to the Ordination of Persons with a Homosexual Orientation
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official2045
- Date
- 1979 February 27
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press release
- Text of motion
- Background
- For some years now the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada has been studying issues relating to sexuality in its totality, including those relating to homosexuality. In this study it is in contact with other parts of the Anglican Communion and other Churches which are engaged in similar activity. The primary concern of the Bishops has been to develop far greater understanding of this area of life which is so important for all of us so that they can minister pastorally more adequately to persons grappling with problems that arise from concerns about sexuality. The Lambeth Conference urged such study.
- "The Conference gladly affirms the Christian ideals of faithfulness and chastity both within and outside marriage, and calls Christians everywhere to seek the grace of Christ to live lives of holiness, discipline, and service in the world, and commends to the Church:
- 1. the need for theological study of sexuality in such a way as to relate sexual relationships to that wholeness of human life which itself derives from God, who is the source of masculinity and femininity;
- 2. the need for programmes at diocesan level, involving both men and women,
- a. to promote the study and foster the ideals of Christian marriage and family life, and to examine the ways in which those who are unmarried may discover the fullness which God intends for all his children;
- b. to provide ministries of compassionate support to those suffering from brokenness within marriage and family relationships;
- c. to emphasize the sacredness of all human life, the moral issues inherent in clinical abortions, and the possible implications of genetic engineering.
- 3. While we re-affirm heterosexuality as the Scriptural norm, we recognise the need for deep and dispassionate study of the question of homosexuality, which would take seriously both the teaching of Scripture and the results of scientific and medical research. The Church, recognizing the need for pastoral concern for those who are homosexual, encourages dialogue with them,
- (We note with satisfaction that such studies are now proceeding in some member Churches of the Anglican Communion".)
- Resolutions
- As steps in this continuing study the Bishops have passed two resolutions:
- February 1978
- "Open discussion and debate, often highly emotional, on the life and rights of homosexual persons in society, have become commonplace and divisive in recent years.
- The members of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, as chief pastors of the Church are obligated to exercise faithful witness to that office, and at the same time, to wrestle with the human and pastoral problems which homosexuality presents to the Church at all levels as it attempts to minister to all people. Realizing the complexity of this area of human relationships and the wide divergence of both popular and informed opinion, the Bishops, in the summer of 1976, asked for help and advice in facing the problems raised by homosexuality in contemporary society. They commissioned a Task Force of eleven persons, from a variety of backgrounds, to present an advisory report to them to assist in their deliberations. The Task Force presented the first draft of its report in 1977 and was asked to do further work in some areas and report back to the meeting of the Bishops early in 1978. The House of Bishops has been meeting this past week in Mississauga and has received the second draft of the report. The lengthy draft is still considered confidential as it was prepared as an advisory paper to the Bishops, not a position paper for the whole Church. The Bishops have committed themselves to continuing study of this vital issue and specifically of the report's 15 recommendations. They will continue their deliberations at future meetings of the House. They have asked that a study paper be prepared in the near future for study and discussion at all levels of the Church, and by other interested groups. In the meantime, the Bishops have issued the following specific statement:
- Questions of human sexuality are a matter of great concern to the Church of our day. Prominent amongst these concerns is the attitude of the Church towards homosexual persons. While homosexuality is a very complex and involved issue, nevertheless, in response to specific questions directed to the Anglican Church of Canada, we have decided that a statement is needed at this time.
- We believe as Christians that homosexual persons as children of God, have a full and equal claim, with all other persons, upon the love, acceptance, concern and pastoral care of the Church. The gospel of Jesus Christ compels Christians to guard against all forms of human injustice and to affirm that all persons are brothers and sisters for whom Christ died. We affirm that homosexual persons are entitled to equal protection under the law with all other Canadian citizens.
- It is clear from Holy Scripture that only the sexual union of male and female can find expression within the covenant of Holy Matrimony.
- In the heart of biblical teaching about creation we discover insights into the nature and purpose of sexuality. Rooted in God's creative purpose is the fulfillment and completion of male and female in each other, together with the procreative function of sexuality. Thus the Church confines its nuptial blessing to heterosexual marriages, and we cannot authorize our Clergy to bless homosexual unions. We are aware that some homosexuals develop for themselves relationships of mutual support, help and comfort, about which the Church must show an appropriate concern. Such relationships, though, must not be confused with Holy Matrimony, and the Church must do nothing which appears to support any such suggestion."
- February 1979
- "1. Our present and future considerations about homosexuality should be pursued within the larger study of human sexuality in its totality;
- 2. We accept all persons, regardless of sexual orientation, as equal before God; our acceptance of persons with homosexual orientation is not an acceptance of homosexual activity;
- 3. We do not accept the blessing of homosexual unions (see previous press release);
- 4. We will not call in question the ordination of a person who has shared with the bishop his/her homosexual orientation if there has been a commitment to the bishop to abstain from sexual acts with persons of the same sex as a part of the requirement for ordination."
- The purpose of the last resolution was to try to make possible more open relationships between bishops and candidates for ordination who are seeking to come to terms with their sexual orientation or who recognize that they are homosexually orientated [sic for oriented].
- This required greater openness and letting persons know what the view of the Bishops is at the present time as their study of the teaching of scripture, the tradition of the Church and the results of scientific and medical research continues. Any action or statement in a sensitive area of this kind must also take into account of the existing attitudes within both society and the Church because the Bishops have a responsibility for the welfare of the Church corporately as well as the welfare of individuals. The Bishops are aware of this responsibility.
- Against this background I would have to take serious disagreement with some of the content of and expectations which lie behind the Churchman Editorial "A Double Standard".
- I do not believe it is a NECESSARY [underlined in original] contradiction to accept a person's orientation and yet ask them to abstain from giving expression to the orientation in certain types of activity. We, in fact, do this to persons in a wide variety of situations in life.
- If it were completely clear that homosexuality is totally genetically determined then a charge of double standard could be logically defended. Since the Bishops do not believe that this assumption is completely clear or dependable and since Scripture, church tradition and culture generally has accepted heterosexuality as the norm, the Bishops do not feel that heterosexuality and homosexuality can be viewed as completely equal conditions. Only if this were the case could a double standard fairly be charged.
- Neither are the Bishops setting up one standard relating to Ordination and another relating to society, (in some senses this could well be justified. People who accept leadership roles in Church and society have historically been expected to accept standards beyond the average as they are expected to model conduct which it is hoped will be emulated). The Bishops have called for equal acceptance in society of persons regardless of their sexual orientation and also recognized the right of all to the love, acceptance, and pastoral care of the Church. They have not authorized clergy to bless homosexual unions. They have not, in my view, as implied in the editorial, set up a double standard.
- I believe the Bishops' statement has and can encourage greater openness and franker discussion between ordinands and themselves. I know it already has in some cases. The actions taken have not solved all the problems. They cannot be solved this easily. They have brought an important concern into the open in what I believe is a responsible way. They will have to be tested in the light of two of the searching questions which Lambeth asked the Anglican Provinces to keep before them:
- "Are we discovering in our common loyalty to Jesus Christ the grounds of a community deep enough and strong enough to enable us to relate to each other honestly and frankly and without claiming moral superiority, no matter how complex or controversial the issue we face may be, without breaking the commitment to Jesus Christ and to each other ?
- Are we discovering the ability to uphold what we believe to be basic Christian values, and at the same time to minister with love and concern to those who have not been able to live up to the standards ? And to do so in a way that does not create a sense of condemnation or rejection and seems primarily legalistic ?"
- Subjects
- Scott, Edward W. (Edward Walter), 1919-2004
- Homosexuality - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Homosexuality - Religious aspects - Anglican Communion
- House of Bishops' Guidelines on the Ordination of Homosexual Persons (1979)
- Sex - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Sex - Religious aspects - Anglican Communion
- Sex (Theology) - Biblical teaching
- Ordination - Anglican Church of Canada
- Ordination of gays - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada - Clergy - Appointment, call and election
- Anglican Church of Canada - Clergy - Sexual behavior
- Same sex unions - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Marriage - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Sexual ethics - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops
- Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops. Task Force on Human Sexuality
- Lambeth Conference, 1978
- Canadian Churchman
- Editorial independence