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
later pingout.
So, when are REAL American and Canadian Anglicans going to contact the church leaders and request that those who believe in the church teachings be allowed to commune and those who don't can stay outside?
Have you considered becoming a Missouri Synod Lutheran instead of ECLA?
Cenatio clausum est.
Not a problem. We wrangled all that out with Monsignor when we joined up. The only matters we differed on were the validity of Anglican Orders and the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome, and we were happy to relinquish those points (especially since the Orders have sort of proved their invalidity - by their fruits shall ye know them, and it's obvious that Adult Leadership is necessary).
Her sister and brother-in-law, who have been upset over the sex scandals in the Roman Catholic Church, are scheduled to start classes in oredr to join the Orthodox Church as well.
I was told that the Priest where they are going to start classes left the Episcopal Church a few years ago and became an Eastern Orthodox priest. I gather that married Episcopal priests becoming E.O. clergy has happened many times in the past few years.
I must admit that that surprised me, but, my nephew says the Orthodox Church welcomes married clergy openly and in fact, encourages marriage among the clergy.
I don't have any problem with the Orthodox Church and I wish them well. I hope that the efforts for a rapprochement on some level with the Catholics work out.
It's not for me, though. Purely a personal and gut level choice. Besides, as ultra-high-church Episcopalians we were Practically Catholic already.
What is with the flower crowns? That just looks STOOPID!
Oh, I get it, two 'queens' getting married, huh?
That's simple.
That Benedict IS Peter is not simple.
How did you get past that?
For more details, see here:
We had read those documents already, it was just a matter of being willing to adopt the other view. Which is actually sometimes sort of funny . . . we were in the choir rehearsal room, and somehow Guy Fawkes came up (I think the Fifth of November was upon us). We were talking about it, and suddenly a light bulb went on in my head, and I exclaimed, "Hey! I get to cheer for the other side now!"
I always felt (with Sir Iain Moncrieffe) that I shared Mr. Fawkes's views about the value of Parliament . . .
I'm convinced that one of the reasons the Globe went after Cardinal Law so completely is because they perceived him to be the greatest threat to their plans to bring homosexual 'marriage' to MA. They figured that if they could destroy the credibility of the Catholic Church in MA, that they would have clear sailing. They're finding that wasn't the case. It was plenty more than just Catholics that were horrified by the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling, and Catholics as well as other Christian denominations and some Jewish groups have organized against it.
Pope Benedict XVI will be forceful in preaching the Church's teachings against homosexual activity in general and 'marriage' in particular. This is why homosexual activists save their most vile ire for the Catholic Church.
Folks shouldn't be so quick to assume that there are no 'clergy scandals' in the Orthodox Churches. They are there, they just haven't gotten the same press as the Catholic Church in America.
Yes indeed. homosexuality is of course an extreme form of narcissism, so naturally it is all about ME!!!
According to the UCC God is just fine with abortions.
Did he really? I knew he spoke to planned parenthood, which is bad enough.
ping
How is the ECUSA board elected? Any way to toss them out on their rumps?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.