Episcopalians: Canadian Bishops Divided on Blessing Same-Gender Relationships

October 31, 2002
by James Solheim

ONTARIO – In the wake of a controversial decision last June by the Anglican Church of Canada's Diocese of New Westminster to develop a liturgy for blessing same-gender relationships, the church's bishops have acknowledged their deep divisions.

Bishop Michael Ingham said at the October 25-29 meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, that three parishes have formally asked for a rite for blessings and, despite pleas from some bishops for a delay, he said that he had given his approval "and we are proceeding."

After three days of closed debate on the situation, a subcommittee drafted a "message to the church" that admitted the bishops were not able "to speak with a unanimous voice on this issue of national concern, especially with regard to the subject of homosexuality in the light of Scripture." The statement urged the diocese and eight parishes that walked out of the synod meeting to express their opposition to seek reconciliation "before the fracture widens."

The statement recommended that all bishops uphold the 1997 guidelines on human sexuality that concluded that bishops "do not accept the blessing of homosexual unions." During an open session several bishops sought assurances from Ingham that he would not proceed with the blessings, warning that he risked breaking communion with a large part of the Anglican world. When it came time to vote 28 bishops voted for the statement and nine voted against. Ingham abstained.

Local option not Anglican way

While in Toronto to receive an honorary doctorate, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey warned Archbishop Michael Peers, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, and the bishops to proceed carefully and to consult others in the Anglican Communion. "It has to be faced and in a generous context of understanding, that there is a very strong orthodox position that prevails in the world today," he said.

"The local option is not the Anglican way of doing things," he said in repeating a warning that dioceses taking unilateral action risk causing schism. At the recent meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Hong Kong, Carey publicly censured New Westminster for making controversial decisions on its own. He also raised the issue of "major ecumenical consequences" for such actions.

Carey admitted that "homosexuals have had a very bad deal in the church," adding that he wished he could see a way to bless same-sex unions "but I can't bless what God doesn't."

Episcopal News Service. This article is based on accounts in the Anglican Journal, newspaper of the Anglican Church of Canada.

[Text of the Message to the Church is on the Anglican Communion web site at www.anglicancommunion.org/acns]