Ottawa synod delays same-sex discussion.Ottawa Four months after the diocese of New Westminster New Westminster, city (1991 pop. 43,585), SW British Columbia, Canada, on the Fraser River, part of metropolitan Vancouver. Founded in 1859 as Queensborough, it was the capital of British Columbia until Victoria was made capital after the union of British Columbia voted to permit a formal blessing ceremony The Blessing Ceremony of the Unification Church is considered the most important and central ceremony in a person’s spiritual life. The Blessing is given to married (or engaged) couples. for homosexual couples, Ottawa is the second Canadian Anglican diocese to consider the idea, but decided it needs more discussion and study. Delegates at Ottawa's annual synod, Oct. 18-19, considered a motion to ask their bishop to authorize clergy in parishes that wish to to bless same-sex. They also considered a competing proposal to adopt the existing positions of the Canadian house of bishops and of the 1998 Lambeth Conference Lambeth Conference, convocation at Lambeth Palace, London, that brings together all the bishops in the Anglican Communion. It meets about every 10 years at the invitation of the archbishop of Canterbury and is the principal instrument of international Anglican life, , both of which have opposed blessing homosexual relationships. Synod voted to refer both motions to the diocesan executive committee and directed the committee to form a task force that will consider the implications of any decision concerning the blessing of same-sex unions. "It's the first time this has come before this synod. I think this was a very generous conversation. People were really saying we need to discuss this and take more time," said diocesan bishop A bishop in charge of a diocese. These are to be distinguished from suffragan bishops, assistant bishops, coadjutor bishops, Auxiliary Bishops, or metropolitans or primates. Peter Coffin at a news conference following a 45-minute debate on the motion. When asked if he would have approved the same-sex motion if it had passed, he replied, "No. That would be simplistic sim·plism n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications. [French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple and premature. I'm hearing that people want more discussion. I want to help the conversation along. I want to listen more intently." Several of 16 speakers during the debate expressed a need for more information and discussion. "We need a time and process for talking with each other. Let's not Let's Not is a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov. It was first published in Boston University Graduate Journal in December 1954. It was written for no payment as a favour to the journal, and later appeared in the collection Buy Jupiter. try to come to a snap decision," said Rev. Richard Pitcher. "We should be talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to gays and lesbians," said delegate Antonia Larsen. Another delegate, Archdeacon Tim Parent, urged "that the discussion be based on the right kinds of theological grounds." Delegate Susan Becker-Davidson said, "I still have many questions" and said she wanted to pose them "in an easier forum than this synod." After the votes to refer, Canon Garth Bulmer, who introduced the motion, said he regretted that "we couldn't say something clearer," but that he was pleased that discussion will begin. Speakers expressed a wide variety of opinion about homosexuality and the place of homosexuals within the church. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion