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Same Sex Blessings Where Are We Now? (P LENT 2011, ISSUE 51, VOLUME XIII, #3 Same Sex Blessings Where are we now? (p. 1) How we got to Liturgy Canada where we are (p. 2) Same Sex Blessings: Where Are We Now? Trolling the Websites (p. 4) Survey of To listen to some people inside and sides here). In many ways, the outside the church, you‟d think all we controversy rages on. But in this issue, Canadian talk or care about is sex! Those of us we want to report on where things are Dioceses (p. 4) involved in parishes and congregations “on the ground”. What is actually taking know otherwise, of course, but we can‟t place because of—or in spite of—the deny that over the past many years rulings and conversations of much time and effort has been spent on international, national, diocesan and how the church responds to same-sex synod bodies? Let us be clear. We are couples who seek God‟s blessing on their not taking sides and saying the issue has relationship within the church been decided. But we thought it would community. be a good time to see what various parts of the Anglican and Lutheran churches In past issues of Liturgy Canada, we are actually doing. have used these pages to hear from people on both sides of the issue (in fact, First of all we present an unscientific it may be more accurate to say all sides, survey of the websites of the Anglican as there are probably more than two Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and all of their synods and dioceses. Then we present a summary of what some Anglican dioceses are doing. This ANNUAL GENERAL information is in the public domain and MEETING readily available either on the web or by contacting the diocese concerned. We Please join us for the thought our readers might find it helpful to know where things stand across the Annual General country. As always, we welcome your Meeting of feedback. Liturgy Canada on Monday, April 11 at 4 pm at the We are grateful to the leadership of each of the dioceses whose rites and processes Queen‟s Inn, we have quoted for giving us permission 161 Ontario Street, to reprint portions here. Stratford, Ontario. John Wilton+ and Peter Wall+ www.liturgy.ca Editors of this issue of Liturgy Canada Liturgy Canada Page 2 How We Got to Where We Are The history of attempts to fully include gays and including the exchange of vows and/or a nuptial lesbians in the life of the Anglican Church (and I dare blessing. say the Lutheran Church) in Canada is a long one, a ...To those who experience these pastoral statements story that is not finished. One of the subsets of that and possible pastoral provisions as inadequate or story is the desire of some for a rite which insufficient, we recognize that they are less than the acknowledges the committed relationship between two blessing of same-sex unions or marriage. However it people of the same gender. The following are some is the discernment of the majority of the House of excerpts from recent documents which place the rites Bishops that as of today the doctrine and discipline of published in this edition of Liturgy Canada in some our church does not clearly permit further action, context. although we acknowledge that General Synod 2007 Just before the General Synod of 2007, the Canadian will vote on several resolutions on the blessing of House of Bishops released a pastoral statement which same-sex unions. they hoped would clarify its stand. The following is To those who fear that these pastoral provisions have selected from that statement: gone too far, we assert that this discipline is entirely ...In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. consistent with the doctrine of the Church and with our membership in the Anglican Communion, and fits The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of within the pastoral guidelines of the Windsor Report Canada, meeting from April 16-20, 2007, once again (paragraph 143). We call upon every member of the discussed the question of the blessing of same-sex Anglican Church of Canada to continue in their faithful unions. Once again a number of diverse opinions were discipleship and the work of theological and scriptural expressed. Again questions were raised about theology, reflection and dialogue. We are each called to scripture, discipline, and our church's constitution. participate in God's mission in the world and we However we did find a common strong concern for the believe we will do this by the grace of the Risen Christ pastoral care of all members of our church. While not all and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. bishops can conceive of condoning or blessing same-sex unions, we believe it is not only appropriate but a Looking ahead, we ask the Primate and General Gospel imperative to pray with the whole people of God, Synod for a report on: no matter their circumstance. In so doing we convey the 1. The theological question whether the blessing of long-standing Gospel teaching that God in Christ loves same-sex unions is a faithful, Spirit-led development of each person and indeed loves him/her so much that Christian doctrine (St. Michael Report) Christ is calling each person to change and grow more 2. The implications of the blessing of same-sex fully into God's image and likeness. To refuse to pray unions and /or marriage for our church and the with any person or people is to suggest God is not with Communion (The Windsor Report) them. All of us fall short of the glory of God but all are 3. Scripture's witness to the integrity of every human loved by God in Christ Jesus. person and the question of the sanctity of human relationships. ...We are committed, as bishops in Canada, to develop the most generous pastoral response possible within the We ask that this report be available in advance of current teaching of the church. We offer the following General Synod 2010. examples of possible pastoral responses: We commit to taking this ongoing conversation to the When a civilly married gay or lesbian couple seeks Lambeth Conference 2008. our church's reception of their civil marriage and asks their parish's recognition, it may be possible, with their During that General Synod, the Synod passed the bishop's knowledge and permission, to celebrate a following motions which in part responded to the Eucharist with the couple, including appropriate request of the Bishops noted above: intercessory prayers, but not including a nuptial That this General Synod accept the conclusion of the blessing. Primate‟s Theological Commission‟s St. Michael Report When a gay or lesbian married or committed couple that the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of seeks to hold a reception or celebration in a church for doctrine, but is not core doctrine in the sense of being their life in Christ, again intercessory prayers for their credal and should not be a communion breaking issue. mutual fidelity, the deepening of their discipleship and (Source: Gs/2007 June 19-25/Act 33) for their baptismal ministry may be offered, not Liturgy Canada Lent 2011 Page 3 continued from page 2 That this General Synod resolves Our conversations affirmed the full faith commitments. For some, even that the blessing of same-sex unions inclusion of gay and lesbian this statement represents a risk. is not in conflict with the core members in our churches, aboriginal For some the statement does not go doctrine (in the sense of being voices in our midst, and the wide nearly far enough. credal) of The Anglican Church of range of perspectives on the issue of In the transparency and openness Canada. (Source GS/2007 June 19- same gender blessings across all we have experienced with one 25/Act 42, Act 43) dioceses. Our dialogue has been a another, we have risked positive and helpful step in our vulnerability but it is in such places discernment. At this time, however, General Synod 2010 that we grow closer in the body of we are not prepared to make a At its meeting last year, General Christ and behold each other as gift. legislative decision. Above, in and Synod held lengthy discussions Abiding with each other, and with through all of this, and despite all around the many issues of same- God we are sustained through our differences we are passionately sex blessings. The following is the struggle, patient listening, and committed to walking together, final report of those discussions: speaking from the mind and heart protecting our common life. together. We have experienced The General Synod of the Anglican We acknowledge diverse pastoral these conversations as a gift for us Church of Canada met in Halifax, practices as dioceses respond to here at Synod and hope that they Nova Scotia in June of 2010. their own missional contexts. We will be a further gift to the Anglican Together we entered into intentional accept the continuing commitment to Church of Canada and to the wider conversations in order to hear where develop generous pastoral Church. our Church is at this time in its life responses. We recognize that these in relation to the matter of blessing different approaches raise of same gender unions. Our difficulties and challenges. When conversations were marked by one acts there are implications for grace, honesty and generosity of all. There can be no imposition of a spirit towards one another.
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