Anglicans vote No on blessing same-sex unions

[TrogL]

Source: CBC

Canadian Anglicans voted against blessing same-sex unions late Sunday afternoon.

...

Earlier in the day, delegates voted in favour of a motion that decreed blessing the unions does not violate core doctrine of the Anglican Church of Canada.

...

"It is a very confusing message to be sending. It's taking with one hand and giving with the other," said Chris Aimbidge, President of Integrity Canada, a lobby group that supports same-sex blessings.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/06/24/anglicans-unions.html

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OK, so we need a definition of what exactly "blessing same sex unions" entails and how that is different than matrimony.

[varkam]

1. AFAIK, they're saying...

that it would be okay for them to bless same-sex unions if they wanted to, which they don't.

[regnaD kciN]

2. Actually, it's more confusing than that...

Although they didn't approve allowing same-sex blessings, their declaration that it wasn't against "core doctrine" also means they can't take disciplinary action against any cleric who performs a same-sex blessing, since they didn't violate core doctrine.

As an analogy, imagine a community declining to repeal laws against marijuana use, but also forbidding the police, courts, etc., to enforce those laws under any circumstances. Like I said, it's confusing.

The resolution actually passed two of the three chambers of Synod handily; it only lost among the Bishops by a 21-19 margin. Of course, it had to pass all three to be approved. I think what it came down to was that a handful of less-progressive Bishops essentially reasoned that, although they didn't think same-sex unions were a big deal, they couldn't actually bring themselves to vote to approve them.

Oh, well...in the case of allowing the ordination of women here in the U.S. (Episcopal) Church back in the '70s, one General Convention narrowly defeated the proposal in a similarly split-chamber ruling, and it was easily approved the next time around. I see no reason to think the same dynamic isn't happening up north as well. This time, the formal proposal came as close as it could without passing -- does anyone think its chances will be any lower in the future?

[xchrom]

3. whew -- i'm glad you did that and not me.

good job.

[TrogL]

4. Now I'm confused

Is having no disciplinary for performaing a same-sex blessing the same as having no disciplinary action for performing a gay marriage?

[JerseygirlCT]

7. One bishop going the other way...

and a different outcome.

I agree -- next time it will pass.

And it's nice for the US to have our neighbors to the north so squarely with us in this.

It will all happen, and it won't be long, I don't think. I'd certainly expect something pretty definitive out of TEC's 09 General Convention.

[yardwork]

5. Reason I left the Episcopalian Church long ago.

[closeupready]

6. I'm so disgusted with all forms of organized religion right now.

n/t

[customerserviceguy]

9. I'm pretty surprised

at gay people who insist on staying in religious traditions that fail to recognize their relationships, even after the state gives approval, as in Canada.

[TrogL]

11. We're slowly changing things from the inside

I spoke to one of the Bishops several times about the issue.

[yardwork]

14. I have utmost respect for everyone who is changing the churches from within.

I just couldn't stand it anymore, but I do respect those who have stayed.

[JerseygirlCT]

8. Well, good things are happening

And both the Canadian and US churches are moving pretty well in the correct direction now -- despite lots of fuss from rw squealers both here and abroad.

[Dark]

10. OH GOD NO! OUR STUPIDITY IS SPREADING! RUN, CANADA, RUN FOR THE HILLS!

:evilgrin:

[muriel_volestrangler]

12. Sounds like what Rowan Williams would like to have happened

Saying they're not definitely wrong; but that they're not going to actually do them (at least in any official form) at the moment.

[brentspeak]

13. It's not as if most Anglicans who are opposed to same-sex blessings are homophobes, anyway

By and large, the Anglican/Episcopalian laity are pretty liberal, regardless of their stance on same-sex marriage.

[JerseygirlCT]

15. You can see the laity's acceptance of same-sex blessings in

the votes -- strongest with the laity, next strongest with the clergy. It's the bishops who lagged behind, and even there by a couple of votes.

It WILL change, it IS changing, from the laity on up.

[TrogL]

16. Anglicans are pretty big on Traditions

(capitalization intended)

It takes a long time to get a Tradition changed and this process bears remarkable resemblance to other Traditions that have changed over the centuries.

They're just following proper procedure.

It'll be interesting to see what the African bishops have to say about this.

[RaRa]

17. That's why we joined the UCC

United Church of Christ. Even though I'm leaning agnostic we wanted something for the kids and it was very important that they belong to an open church and see gay couples with kids and such (since they won't likely see much of it in our bible thumping red town). It's wonderful to be a part of church that respects ALL the families equally.

[EFerrari]

18. Someone send these people anything that Christ taught.

Anything.