Canadian Anglicans continue to risk unity for homosexuality.

Winnipeg -- Delegates to the Anglican Church of Canada's (ACC) triennial general synod narrowly avoided formal schism with their worldwide communion. However, they showed themselves willing to provoke ongoing international confrontation with split voting on various same-sex motions during their Winnipeg meeting on June 23-25, 2007.

Most countries in the Anglican communion continue to oppose same-sex unions. North American Anglicans have been criticized by other countries' primates for their isolated 'gay' activism, even by the liberal archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. In May, 2003, Vancouver diocese New Westminster (BC) became the only diocese to approve a public rite of blessing for same-sex unions. In November, 2003, the United States' Episcopal Church (ECUSA) became the first to consecrate a bishop living in a same-sex relationship. Since February, 2005, distressed Anglican primates from the rest of the world have collectively asked for a moratorium on same-sex blessings and for Canada and the U.S. respectively to express regret both for the decisions made and how they were made.

Delegates faced significant lobbying on same-sex issues. A traditionalist group, Anglican Essentials, opposes the blessing of same-sex unions. Zacchaeus Fellowship, a group of men and women who have struggled with unwanted same-sex attractions, urges their church to maintain traditional sexual morality and spreads the message that chastity is possible. Meanwhile, Integrity Canada pushes for 'gay rights' within the ACC, notwithstanding the disruptive consequences. 'Gay' activists not even affiliated with the church have also closely followed progress on their agenda (e.g. www.pinknews.co.uk, June 21, 2007).

Laity and clergy elected a new primate (national archbishop) for Canada, Fred Hiltz, who himself favours same-sex blessings and was installed in a new-style liturgy (www.accnotes.org, June 25 and 26, 2007). Bizarrely, the Winnipeg delegates approved one motion contending that church blessings for civil same-sex unions would not violate core doctrine; but then narrowly defeated another motion that would have permitted dioceses to approve the blessings in specific parishes. Motions must be passed by a triple majority of laity, clergy, and bishops; for the second motion, only a slim majority of bishops (21-19)was able to block the votes of the clergy and laity in favour of same-sex blessings (CTV.ca and theglobeandmail.com, June 24, 2007).

The New Westminster diocese then submitted a motion to be exempted from the second motion, so that it alone could be approved to authorize same-sex blessings. But bishop Michael Ingham suddenly withdrew the request, knowing that it was unlikely to have passed. Clearly in defiance of the needs of the national and international bodies, New Westminster will nevertheless continue its unwelcome sanctification practices. Still, delegates approved a motion for the study of a revision to the marriage canons--church law that currently limits marriage to a man and a woman, and a motion to study whether "whether the blessing of same-sex unions is a faithful, Spiritled development of Christian doctrine" (www.accnotes.org, June 26, 2007). An additional motion from the bishops re-affirmed pastoral sensitivity to same-sex couples, including those civilly 'married.'

Reacting to the major doctrinal change, Anglican Essentials stated: "This is a sad day for the Anglican Church of Canada. We are grieved that the church has abandoned its heritage, its teaching and its commitment to Scripture. The global Primates have clearly told us that to move unilaterally on same sex blessings will be seen as choosing to walk away from the rest of the Communion. Anglican Essentials Canada is committed to maintaining full communion with the global Anglican Communion. By saying that same sex blessings is consistent with Anglican doctrine, the door is open for same sex blessings in dioceses across Canada--despite the defeat of the motion affirming local options" (June 24, 2007).

The good news out of all this confusion is that for the moment the final vote was 'no' to same-sex blessings.

Also meeting in Winnipeg June 21-24, 2007 was the biennial general synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada--which is in full communion with the ACC. The Lutherans also defeated a motion on developing ways "to best minister to people who live in committed same-sex relationships, including the possibility of blessing such unions" (www.elcic.ca, June 23, 2007).