Posted on 06/23/2005 1:15:56 PM PDT by GMMAC
Anglicans 'expel' Canada
Clergy barred from key bodies over gay marriage
Bob Harvey; with files from Natalie Alcoba
CanWest News Service, with files from The Daily Telegraph
NATIONAL POST
Thursday, June 23, 2005
The fierce battle within the Anglican Church over homosexual clergy and same-sex marriage has brought the Canadian and American branches of the faith to the brink of banishment by the Church's ruling bodies meeting in England.
The controversy flared up at the Anglican Consultative Council session in Nottingham yesterday, pitting the liberal, pro-homosexual Canadian and American congregations against a hardline coalition of African and Asian wings that bitterly opposes homosexual involvement in Church affairs.
At the root of the dispute is the consecration of openly gay clergyman Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire and the decision by the diocese of New Westminster, B.C., to authorize the blessing of same-sex marriage.
The same-sex confrontation in the Church comes as the Parliament of Canada is locked in an equally bitter showdown over government legislation that would make Canada only the third nation in the world to legalize formal same-sex marriage.
Yesterday the Consultative Council rejected the North American rationale for homosexual participation in Church affairs and voted to banish both Canada and the U.S. from the council and its central finance and standing committees.
A watered down resolution that stopped short of demanding North American banishment from all Church bodies, requested "that the Episcopal Church [U.S.] and the Anglican Church of Canada withdraw their members from the council's standing committee and the inter-Anglican finance and administration committee."
The resolution passed 30-28 in a secret ballot, with four abstentions, behind the closed doors of the council's session at the University of Nottingham.
Although somewhat milder than the original version, The Times of London noted "it amounts in effect to a punishing expulsion."
"If there was any doubt left about the serious nature of this rift, this week's meeting has made clear how far from agreement both sides appear to be, and the extent to which neither is willing to compromise," said The Times. "The deepening anger on both sides means the 2008 conference in Canterbury could see savage theological conflict."
The newspaper added that the events of the week moved the Church "closer to schism."
The Church's official policy declares homosexuality "incompatible with scripture."
The Canadian and U.S. branches of the Church had already agreed to refrain from participation in the governing council until 2008.
Nigeria's Archbishop Peter Akinola has been the loudest of the Asian and African critics of the North American churches and submitted yesterday's resolution. Both U.S. and Canadian leaders came to this week's council meetings to explain why they had taken stands that marred their relationships with sister churches.
However, Canadian delegates, including the church's primate, Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, refused to drop their support of the blessing of same-sex unions in Vancouver.
Reverend Peter Elliott, dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver and the deputy chairman of the Canadian church's governing body, its General Synod, told the Consultative Council on Tuesday, "I am a gay man. I am in a committed partnership myself."
He said he is able to hold such a visible position in the Church because of the support of his partner, his family, his bishop and his diocese.
In a letter to the international Anglican Consultative Council, Archbishop Hutchison expressed regret over strained relationships with other Anglicans and agreed that until Canada's General Synod meets in 2007, there will be a moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions.
The Canadian delegation told the meeting in Nottingham that the Church exists in a social, cultural and political context where seven of 10 provinces have already authorized same-sex marriages. But Bishop Sue Moxley of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island said that despite their differences, Canadian leaders continue to see themselves as part of the worldwide Church.
The Right Reverend Catherine Roskam, the suffragan bishop of New York, called on other Anglican churches to learn to live with different approaches to sexuality. In a 130-page document, the U.S. Episcopal Church argued that its members have found holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination of homosexuals.
Charlie Masters, national director for Anglican Essentials Canada, a group that represents conservative Anglicans, welcomed yesterday's decision, calling it an opportunity for the Canadian church to change its direction.
"It shows that the Anglican communion is strong in its resolve to call the Anglican Church back to Anglican beliefs," he said.
The meeting of delegates from the 38 Anglican churches will continue until June 28. National churches must then decide whether to accept or reject any decisions made at the meetings.
© National Post 2005
Wonderful news!
It took them long enough.
A committed partnership with Satan.
I am not Episcopalian but how any Christian can accept this outright abomination is beyond me.
he need to read Roman
ping
The media only tries to generate controversy rather than shedding light. That's why the first person quoted in this story is a gay minister who is opposed to the church's stance.
Not Anglican but WTG!!!
No Church that claims to be Christian should accept that which goes against God's word. Nice to finally see a stand being taken.
About time. Enough insanity.
I was an Episcopalian. Right up to the day scripture was tossed out the window and a queer Bishop was ordained. I'm now quite happy in the Catholic church. Should have made the move long ago.
Does this mean the 'faithful' congregations can keep their Churches and not get run out by pro-homosexual Pastors and Bishops?
I am still trying to figure out how a group that is less than 5% of the population has managed to completely hijack and destroy my Church. Canon law apparently means nothing to these people in their all-out quest to legitimize their perversion.
Episcopalian Bump
Welcome Home. ;o)
gay use the same tatic as Satan in the Garden of Eden.
They use the Bible itself as a weapon against us. smart.
I have said before that our family was sitting and mourning beside a dead body while the orthodox, living, breathing Church was waiting for us right around the corner.
The ECUSA bigwigs will deny until the end of time that any resolution by the Anglican Communion (1) means what it says; (2) has any effect on them. They will continue in their destructive course.
We don't have time to wait while their little charade plays out over years and years. They are a whited sepulchre and it is dangerous to remain in communion with them.
Far be it from me to advise people on such a personal issue but when American Episcopal church officials make statements like this:
"The Right Reverend Catherine Roskam, the suffragan bishop of New York, called on other Anglican churches to learn to live with different approaches to sexuality. In a 130-page document, the U.S. Episcopal Church argued that its members have found holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination of homosexuals."
I concluded that my time in a church that nakedly ignored scripture was a waste.
"I am a gay man. I am in a committed partnership myself."
Not a very good reader, I'd guess.
Seriously, the second part of his statement is supposed to be his defense. But the Bible states that homosexual behavior is sin, regardless of how "committed" one is to the sin.
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