ANGLICAN JOURNAL Since 1875 vol. 143 no. 6 june 2017 Same-sex weddings held in 3 dioceses André Forget STAFF WRITER Eight same-sex couples have been married in three Anglican Church of Canada dio- ceses, ahead of General Synod 2019, when a resolution to allow same-sex marriages will be presented for second reading. Since General Synod 2016 approved— on first reading—a proposed change in the marriage canon (church law) to allow same-sex marriages, four weddings of same-sex couples have taken place in the diocese of Niagara, three in the diocese of Toronto and one in the diocese of Ottawa, according to the offices of the respective diocesan bishops. Several other same-sex couples in the dioceses of Toronto and Ottawa are also preparing to walk down the aisle. IMAGE: KATHY EPPICK Two other dioceses—Montreal and Brit- ish Columbia—have also decided to allow clergy to perform same-sex marriage. Outpouring of Spirit Diocese of Montreal Bishop Mary Irwin-Gibson said she is currently going June 4 is Pentecost Sunday, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples, following the death, resurrection through a discernment process with four and ascension of Jesus. The 50th day after Easter, it also marks the birth of the Christian church. See related story, p. 15. same-sex couples considering marriage. See Eight, p. 2 Naloxone kits accompany defibrillators in parishes Plans for By Art Babych It was following the deaths of two young girls from opioid overdoses early Native church Churches across Canada have a role to this year that Stone, who has a 16-year-old play in the current opioid overdose crisis, daughter, organized a Naloxone workshop says the Rev. Monique Stone, rector of at St. Thomas the Apostle Anglican Church taking shape the three-point Parish of Huntley in the on February 23 for 20 clergy, including diocese of Ottawa. diocesan Bishop John Chapman. Naloxone Tali Folkins and André Forget STAFF WRITERS “We [churches] just have to open up is used to temporarily block the effects of our parish halls, promote something and opioid overdoses. A focus group tasked with working out the make people recognize that the church After the clergy workshop, Stone details of what a self-determining Indig- is involved and concerned and actively announced that a Naloxone workshop enous church will look like is considering a engaged in whatever is going on in the life would be held at St. James, Carp, in her model in which Indigenous Anglicans will of people in communities—not members home parish, on March 22. She invited belong to both their local dioceses and the of our parish, but people in communities,” people from the wider community to Indigenous church at the same time. said Stone in an Anglican Journal interview attend. It was booked to capacity within “We’re really talking about congrega- PHOTO: ART BABYCH March 8. Government organizations and 72 hours, with dozens of others left on the tions having a sense of dual belonging in The Rev. Monique Stone holds a Naloxone boards of education often face barriers waiting list. the Indigenous church and in their own kit, used to temporarily block the effects of when organizing workshops dealing with One of the girls who died had dioceses,” National Indigenous Anglican opioid overdose. the opioid overdose crisis, she said. See Priest, p. 12 See Bishops, p. 6 Yanked out of reverie PM# 40069670 13 2 anglican journal • june 2017 A Toronto couple’s long-awaited Anglican wedding André Forget When they learned the next day that an driven to remarry following her divorce STAFF WRITER error had been made in counting the vote, from her husband. On the night of July 11, 2016, Karen and that the motion had, in fact, passed on For Steeves, however, a Christian wed- first reading, it was, in Turner’s words, “a ding ceremony was important—especially Turner and Heather Steeves were sitting dream.” (The motion will be sent to Gen- because of the way the church she was in the bar of the hotel where the Anglican eral Synod for second reading in 2019.) raised in made her think of her own sexu- Church of Canada’s General Synod was Five months later, on December 3, ality as being aberrant. meeting; they were commiserating with Turner and Steeves were wed at their home Most members of Steeves’ family, who other members of Equally Anglican, an parish, Toronto’s Church of the Redeemer. are still conservative Baptists, “[stepped] Anglican LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Both recall the day with great joy, outside of their comfort zone” and attend- Transgender, Queer/Questioning) group. but they acknowledged it meant some- ed her wedding. “The affirmation of that!” They had just watched Primate Fred thing slightly different for each of them. Steeves recalled, her voice full of emotion. Hiltz announce that the motion to change When the couple met in the early 1990s, “I’ve had a few moments in my life when church law to allow same-sex marriage had Turner was married to a man; in fact, something like that would happen, when failed to pass by one critical vote in the Or- it was through her ex-husband that she God would make Godself so evident in my der of Clergy at General Synod. For Turner met Steeves, who worked for the Baptist life, and that was one of them. And that joy and Steeves, the decision hit close to home: church. The two fell in love, and when has not left me since that day.” they had been living together for more Turner’s marriage fell apart, she and The Rev. David Howells, who officiated than 20 years, and had often wondered if Steeves began living together. at the wedding, said he felt “privileged” to they would see the day when they could be Their relationship was blessed in a com- have been priest-in-charge of Redeemer at married in an Anglican church. mitment ceremony in 2000, but when civil the time. (He now serves at the Church of So when Archbishop Colin Johnson an- marriages for same-sex couples became the Transfiguration.) nounced that the diocese of Toronto, where legal in Ontario in 2003, they decided to The ceremony was both a way for Turner and Steeves are members, would hold off. “We had a long debate between Turner and Steeves to affirm their love for be offering rites of marriage for same-sex ourselves whether or not we would ever each other in the presence of their com- PHOTO: AMY BROWN couples, they were elated. “I was just so get married, but if we were going to do it, it munity and a symbol of how the Anglican Heather Steeves and Karen Turner during grateful. It was such a courageous thing for would be within the church,” said Turner, church has developed on LGBTQ matters, their wedding at Church of the Redeemer him to do,” Turner said. adding that she didn’t feel particularly he said. g CANADA Eight same-sex marriages in church since General Synod Continued from p. 1 Bishop Logan McMenamie, of the diocese of British Columbia, announced at a diocesan synod in autumn 2016 that he will “move forward with the marriage of same-sex couples in the diocese” on a case- by-case basis. When the Anglican Journal contacted McMenamie’s office in March 2017, no same-sex couples had yet approached the diocese about the possibility of marriage. Following the first reading of the mo- tion—which was initially, but incorrectly, declared as being defeated in a vote at Gen- eral Synod 2016—several bishops publicly announced they would nonetheless marry 5Members line McMenamie, said they would discuss with Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Two- same-sex couples. (Since changing the up to speak for their clergy and synods whether or not Spirited) Anglicans in his diocese. marriage canon is considered a matter of or against the to offer marriages to same-sex couples But the process for marrying same-sex doctrine, the motion requires a two-thirds marriage canon immediately. couples differs slightly among the dioceses majority vote at two successive General motion at General While McMenamie opted to move that have agreed to do so. Synods. The second and final vote will take Synod 2016. forward, other bishops who underwent While Bird simply requires priests mar- place at General Synod 2019.) PHOTO: ART BABYCH similar consultations, such as Bishop Me- rying same-sex couples to inform him in Niagara Bishop Michael Bird, Ottawa lissa Skelton, of the diocese of New West- advance, Irwin-Gibson told the Journal she Bishop John Chapman, Toronto Arch- minster, agreed to “abide by” the General has so far only permitted such weddings to bishop Colin Johnson, then-Huron Bishop Synod process. In a November pastoral happen in churches where the congrega- Bob Bennett and then-coadjutor (now letter, Skelton—whose diocese was the first tions and clergy are on board, and only for diocesan) Bishop Linda Nicholls all stated to offer same-sex blessings, in 2002—said couples who are active in their congrega- that they would marry same-sex couples New Westminster would “hold off” on let- tions. “This is meant to be a pastoral mea- as a pastoral measure, citing an opinion ting clergy officiate the marriage of same- sure for members of the church where it is by General Synod Chancellor David Jones sex couples until the motion is approved. important to be done,” said Irwin-Gibson, that the marriage canon as it stands does However, she said she would convene a adding that she has turned down some not actually bar same-sex marriage.