The Anglican Church of Canada (ACC) and homosexuality

2011: St. Alban's Church, leaves Diocese of Ottawa.
2011-2013: More dioceses bless same-sex couples.
2013: Vote planned for 2016 Synod on solemnizing
same-sex marriages.

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This topic is a continuation from the previous essay.

2011-JUN-27: St Alban's Anglican Church formally splits from the Diocese of Ottawa, ON, and from the Anglican Church of Canada:

St. Alban's was the oldest surviving church building in the Nation's capital, Ottawa, ON. The majority of parishioners could not accept the Anglican Church's decision to allow dioceses to bless loving, committed same-sex relationships and same-sex marriages solemnized elsewhere. On 2008-FEB-16, the congregation voted 79 to 1 to leave the Anglican Church of Canada. By a vote of 77 to 1, with one abstention, they voted to join the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC). They sought oversight from the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone in South America.

In 2010, the Diocese of Ottawa sued the rector and church wardens for possession of the building and all its assets.

The ANiC reported on 2011-FEB-13:

"After months of negotiation, two Ottawa parishes of the Anglican Network in Canada (ANiC) -– St Alban’s the Martyr and [its sister church] St George’s – have reached a negotiated settlement with the Anglican Church of Canada’s Diocese of Ottawa.

The settlement will be effective 1 July 2011 and will entail:
•  both congregations changing their church names.
•  the people of St George’s retaining their church building in the heart of Ottawa.
•  the people of St Alban’s relinquishing their building.
•  a further undisclosed division of assets between the parishes and the diocese. ₈

“We are deeply grateful to God for this settlement,” said the Rev George Sinclair, long-time rector of St Alban’s. “When the Diocese of Ottawa sued our two parishes and personally sued the rectors and elected leaders of the parishes, it seemed the matter would inevitably be decided by the courts. We are looking forward to not having to deal with this issue any longer. We see ourselves as giving up the building for the cause of Christ."

On the afternoon of JUN-27, the congregation walked in a procession down King Edward Avenue to relocate temporarily in the nearby Ottawa Little Theatre where they will be known as Church of the Messiah.

Long-time member of St. Alban's, Diane Scarff, said:

"It's very painful to be walking out. We love St. Alban's, but we're trusting God and we want to be biblically faithful and we believe it's the right thing. ... We're staying together as a family completely united." ₇

As of mid-2013 the Church of the Messiah remains without a church building. ₉

2012-OCT-13: Diocese of Edmonton approves blessing of same-sex couples:

At the Diocesan Synod on OCT-12 and 13, a motion was passed that allows clergy to bless the relationships of same-gender couples and bless the marriages of same-sex couples who were previously solemnized in a civil ceremony outside the Anglican Church. The motion would make it possible for:

"... clergy members ... to ask the bishop for permission to ... bless the unions of same-sex couples."

Eligibility will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The motion was introduced by Neil Gordon who is rector of All Saints’ Cathedral in Edmonton and dean of that diocese. The arrangement in Edmonton diocese differs from those in other dioceses such as New Westminster and Toronto where individual parishes are given blanket permission to offer blessings. In Edmonton, the bishop must give prior approval for each blessing. The motion passed with a vote of 70% to 30%.

A second resolution asked clergy to cooperate in determining just how the blessings will be performed. Gordon said: "We have to work out how we are going to do this in a way that builds up and retains unity.

Clergy plan to meet in mid-November to determine which prayers and liturgy would be use to bless same-sex relationships.

Until now, the diocese had only offered same-gender couples the chance to attend a family eucharist service, as set out in guidelines developed by the House of Bishops. There had been no formal acknowledgement of the marriage in the service, however. ₁₀

2012-NOV-01: Diocese of Rupert's Land approved blessings of same-sex relationships & civil marriages:

On OCT-20, the Synod passed a resolution allowing same-sex blessings of same-sex couples' relationships or marriages. However, Bishop Donald Phillips initially vetoed the decision of the synod until he could consult with the national and provincial houses of bishops. He consented to the resolution on NOV-01. He said in a statement:

"I am now settled that it is pastorally appropriate to proceed with concurring with this resolution."

With this decision, almost one third of the dioceses in the Anglican Church of Canada now allow clergy to bless same-sex relationships and prior marriages. ₁₁

2012-DEC-06: Diocese of Quebec moving toward blessing same-sex relationships & civil marriages:

The synod of the Diocese of Quebec met on 2012-NOV-02 to 04. More than 60 of the 70 synod members voted in favor of a motion supporting Bishop Dennis Drainville's request to permit the blessing of same-sex relationships and civil marriages solemnized elsewhere. Bishop Drainville said that no cleric or congregation will be required to perform such blessings. Once the details have been worked out, it will:

"... simply be an option ... which is being offered in an increasing number of parts of the Anglican Church of Canada. ₁₂

2013-JAN-04: Diocese of British Columbia becomes 11th diocese to approve blessings of same-sex relationships & civil marriages:

The diocesan synod had passed a resolution in 2010-MAR to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions with a vote of about 95% in favor. It requested that the bishop:

"... grant permission for clergy whose conscience permits to bless duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples, where [a minimum of] one party is baptized. ..."

After waiting for almost three years, British Columbia Bishop James Cowan finally authorized the resolution as of JAN-01. He urged respect for clergy that wanted to continue to discriminate against loving, committed same-sex couples:

"... who in conscience cannot participate in the blessing of same-sex unions. ... permission to bless same-sex unions between persons who have been participants in duly ‘solemnized and registered civil marriages,’ is not at this time an ecclesiastical recognition of those civil marriages, nor is the blessing given to people in these circumstances a ‘nuptial’ blessing." ₁₃

With this decision of the Diocese of British Columbia, 11 of the 33 dioceses in the Anglican Church of Canada -- exactly one third -- either have blessings available, or are arranging to make blessings available in the near future.

2013-JUL-06: General Synod to revisit the same-sex marriage question:

One third of the Anglican Church's synods have made significant progress in permitting the blessing of loving, committed same-sex relationships and civil marriages solemnized elsewhere. Still, the change represents only a partial movement towards full marriage equality. It resembles the situation in many U.S. states where same-sex couples can enter civil unions or domestic partnerships, but they are not allowed to marry. By registering their relationship as a union or partnership they are willingly accepting second-class status. During the hearings of the U.S. federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in 2013-MAR, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg of the U.S. Supreme Court described civil unions as a type of "skim milk marriage" when compared to the "full marriages" that only opposite-sex couples can access. Having to obtain a civil marriage in advance, and then having it blessed by the Anglican Church later reinforces the denomination's position that there are full members in the Anglican Church -- composed of heterosexuals -- while the LGBT community can only attain second-class member status.

However, as of mid-2013, the first steps towards full marriage equality in the Anglican Church may soon come.

The General Synod approved resolution C003 to discuss and vote again on whether the denomination should marry loving, committed couples. The resolution was proposed by the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and its members Michelle Bull and Jennifer Warren. The debate and vote will be held during the 2016 Synod. Resolution asked the Council of General Synod to create a motion to vote on changing the church’s current Canon 21 "to allow the marriage of same-sex couples in the same way as opposite sex couples."

The resolution asks that the 2016 motion would include a:

"... conscience clause so that no member of the clergy, bishop, congregation or diocese should be constrained to participate in or authorize such marriages against the dictates of their conscience.

The vote was 25 to 11 among the bishops, 72 to 30 among the clergy, and 101 to 27 among the laity, all in favor of the motion. Since the majority within all three groups were in favor, the resolution passed.

Stephen Andrews, Bishop of Algoma, and Dean Peter Elliott of the Diocese of New Westminster proposed amendments stating that the motion in 2016 should be based on a widespread consultation within the denomination, and would include:

• An explanation of why the motion does not contravene the Solemn Declaration.
  
  
• Confirms that bishops, dioceses, and priests who want to continue discriminating against same-sex couples in marriage would have immunity under civil law and the Human Rights Code.
  
  
• Contains a biblical and theological rationale for allowing same-sex couples to marry.

Some comments during discussion of the resolution were:

• Co-author Michelle Bull said:

  "Those of us who believe that same-sex relationships are a normal and natural part of God’s creation, and are blessed by God, are having to turn away same-sex couples against the dictates of our consciences. We’re having to say no to people when we believe God wants us to say yes. We have to choose between obedience to the church and what we believe is obedience to God."

• Bob Durham of the Diocese of Algoma referred to the resolution as "prematurely conceived." He contrasted the difference between the blessing of same-sex marriages, and solemnizing of same-sex marriages. He said:

  "One is a pastoral response; the other would be a sacramental rite. Blessings are not the same thing as marriage."

• Archdeacon Peter John Hobbs of the Diocese of Ottawa, said that the motion:

  "... allows us to move forward in transparency and begins the long process that will see culmination six years from now."

• Leona Moses of the Diocese of Huron opposed the motion. She said that she represented the beliefs of the Six Nations Reserve's six Anglican churches:

  "Traditionally, we look to seven generations before we make up our minds about what we should or should not do today."

If the resolution is approved in 2016 it would probably be implemented in 2019, which would be 14 years behind the Government of Canada's legislation broadening of marriage to include same-sex couples, and about 16 years behind Canadian adults according to Ipsos-Reid polls. If passed, it would probably result in many older Anglican members leaving, and perhaps some additional congregations disassociated themselves from the denomination. However, it would probably at least partially stem the flow of older teens and young adults who are leaving the denomination because of the latter's discrimination against sexual minorities. It is a matter of short-term pain and long-term gain.

References used:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. Leigh Anne Williams, "CoGS won’t ask for change to marriage canon in 2010," Anglican Journal, 2009-JUN-01, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
2. "The Galilee Report," Primate’s Theological Commission, Anglican Church of Canada, 2009-JUN-18, at: http://www.anglican.ca/
3. "A Word to the Church on Questions of Human Sexuality from the Council of General Synod May 2009," The Anglican Church of Canada, at: http://www.anglican.ca/
4. Neale Adams, "OPINION: General Synod 2010 has been successful for most, but great challenges remain," Anglican Journal, 2010-JUN-10, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
5. Marites N. Sison, "Same-sex blessings get the nod in Nova Scotia, PEI, Anglican Journal web site, 2011-MAY-31, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
6. Marites N. Sison, "Same-sex marriage vote in 2016," Anglican Journal web site, 2013-JUL-07, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
7. "St. Alban's church walks from Ottawa Diocese," CBC News, 2011-JUN-27, at: http://www.cbc.ca/
8. "Ottawa parishes reach settlement with Diocese," Anglican Network in Canada, 2011-FEB-13, at: http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/
9. "Wise Questions," The Church of the Messiah, undated, at: http://messiahchurch.ca/
10. Leigh Anne Williams, "Edmonton votes to allow same-sex blessings," Anglican Journal, 2012-OCT-16, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
11. Marites N. Sison, "Same-sex blessings available in Rupert’s Land," Anglican Journal, 2012-NOV-02, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
12. "Quebec becomes 10th diocese to offer same-sex blessings," Anglican Journal, 2012-DEC-06, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
13. Marites N. Sison, "Bishop of B.C. authorizes same-sex blessings," Anglican Journal, 2013-JAN-04, at: http://www.anglicanjournal.com/
14. "Diocese of the Anglican Church of Canada," Anglican Church of Canada, undated, at: http://www.anglican.ca/

Copyright © 2010 to 2013 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
Initial posting: 2010-OCT-19
Latest update: 2013-JUL-09
Author: B.A. Robinson

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