Author

Gardner, Matt

Material Type

Journal Article

Journal

Anglican Journal

Date

2019 September

Volume

145

Issue

7

Page

1, 6, 9

Notes

"General Synod's failure to pass a resolution to amend the marriage canon to expressly allow solemnization of same-sex marriage, followed by a communiqué from the House of Bishops effectively commending diocesan-based decisions on the matter, has triggered a wave of response across the Anglican Church of Canada. Bishops, clergy, laity, officers and deacons alike have weighed in with concerns about the decision. Some bishops, including then-Primate-elect Linda Nicholls in her capacity as bishop of Huron, have outlined plans to exercise a 'local option' for same-sex marriage in their dioceses. Resolution A052-R2, for the second reading of an amendment to Canon XXI on marriage in the church, failed to achieve a required two-thirds majority vote in all three orders of General Synod. While two-thirds of the Order of Laity (80.9%) and Order of Clergy (73.2%) voted in favour of the resolution, less than two-thirds (62.2%) voted in favour in the Order of Bishops" (p. 1,6). "The initial announcement of the vote result left many synod members visibly in shock, with some crying" (p. 6). The House of Bishops responded with a statement on 15 July 2019. "'We, members of the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, see the pain and anguish inflicted on LGBTQ2S+ people, on members of the General Synod, across the church, and in the world, as a result of the work and the vote on the matter of Canon 21, concerning marriage', the bishops' statement read. 'We see your tears, we hear your cries, and we weep with you. We have caused deep hurt. We are profoundly sorry'. The bishops noted that General Synod has 'overwhelmingly approved' the 'A Word to the Church' document and that the bishops affirmed the right of Indigenous peoples and communities to 'spiritual self-determination in their discernment and decisions in all matters'. But perhaps most consequential was their declaration that different levels of the church may make their own decisions on the matter of same-sex marriage" (p. 6). "On July 18 [1992], the Arctic House of Bishops -- which includes some of the most outspoken opponents of the failed marriage canon amendment -- released a statement declaring that General Synod 'has given us permission to decide for ourselves what direction we should take. We choose now to walk as the self-determining Anglican Church of Canada in the Arctic'" (p. 9). "'The Anglican General Synod has given us permission as an Indigenous church to determine what we'll do, and we are exercising that right', [Bishop David Parsons] added. 'I would be very sad to hear if the Anglican Church of Canada, because owe are now exercising that right, did anything to try to kick us out. The problem is, we're not leaving. But we're not following false teachings'" (p. 9). "'Our church has a wonderful diversity in so many areas of its life', [Primate-elect Linda] Nicholls wrote. 'That diversity also leads to tensions but I can promise you that the bishops, clergy and laity of our church are committed to living together with love and grace as we continue to learn from one another and seek a path that honours God'" (p. 9).

Subjects

Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod (42nd : 2019 : Vancouver, B.C.) - Resolutions

Decision making - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada

Anglican Church of Canada. General Synod. Constitution. Canon XXI

Homosexuality - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada

Marriage (Canon law) - Anglican Church of Canada

Marriage - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada

Same sex unions - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada

Anglican Church of Canada - Bishops

Anglican Church of Canada. House of Bishops

A Word to the Church

Indigenous peoples - Canada - Anglican Church of Canada - 21st century

Inuit - Canada - Anglican Church of Canada - 21st century

Anglican Church of Canada. Diocese of the Arctic

Parsons, David W.

Anglican Church of Canada - Parties and movements - 21st century

Indigenous Anglican Church

Nicholls, Linda (Linda Carol), 1954-

Less detail