Anglican Church affirms presence and contributions of gay men and lesbians
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official4
- Date
- 1995 June 8
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press release
- Text of motion
- OTTAWA (June 8) -- The Anglican Church of Canada's governing General Synod has affirmed the presence and contributions to the church of gay men and lesbians and condemned bigotry, violence and hatred directed against people because of their sexual orientation.
- After a passionate, four-hour debate, the General Synod also strongly endorsed three other resolutions arising out of the report of a Task Force on Homosexuality and Homosexual Relationships, struck three years ago.
- - The Synod urges parishes and diocese to "continue, deepen and adapt" the learning and dialogue on homosexuality and homosexual relationships throughout the church, and;
- - Urged the Primate to encourage dialogue on homosexuality and homosexual relationships throughout the church, and;
- - Asked the church's bishops to indicate whether they are or intend to review sexuality guidelines they formulated in 1979. (The guidelines say the church will not bless same-sex unions and that homosexual people may be ordained but must remain celibate.)
- Most of the debate at General Synod centred on the first recommendation -- the affirmation of the presence and contributions of gay men and lesbians.
- Some Synod members felt that the church would do an injustice to its members by affirming the contributions of some, but not all.
- Other Synod members said they could support the language of the resolution despite concerns about appearing to sanction homosexuality. "This does not commit me to condoning homosexual behavior, nor does it change the doctrine of the church," one Synod member said.
- Before approving the Task Force resolutions, Synod defeated several amendments aimed at broadening the affirmation or at being much more general by affirming all Christians regardless of sexual orientation.
- One speaker said he opposed broadening the resolution because "that removes the names of the people we are talking about and my understanding of Christian tradition is that names are very important."
- - 30 -
- Contact: Sam Carriere or Lorie Chortyk, Media Relations, General Synod. News Room: (613) 788-2600 ext. 2040 Cellular (613) 720-1468
- Subjects
- Homosexuality - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada
- Anglican Church of Canada - Parties and movements
- Anglican Church of Canada. Task Force on Homosexuality and Homosexual Relationships
- Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod (34th : 1995 : Ottawa, Ont.)