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Posted on 06/10/2005 8:27:55 AM PDT by sionnsar
June 10, 2005 - The Anglican diocese of the Arctic has given notice that it will not employ the following: anyone having pre-marital sex, homosexuals, lesbians and bisexuals, those who willingly engage in sexual activities with a minor and with those whom they are counseling or supervising (excluding spouse), and those who fail to disclose a prior conviction on child sexual abuse.
Anyone who "supports and promotes such behavior, lifestyle or teaching" is likewise not eligible for employment, according to the diocesan synod, which voted on the issue during a meeting in Iqaluit May 25 to June 2.
The conditions apply not just to clergy who are licensed or seeking a license to minister in the diocese but also to current as well as prospective lay workers.
"We are a religious organization that has a moral code that we abide by," said Larry Robertson, suffragan bishop of Mackenzie and Kitikmeot, explaining the synod's decision to amend its canon on the order and eligibility for licensing (Canon 18) by setting the same conditions for clergy and lay employees. "We don't condemn others but this is what we believe and how we behave according to God's word. There was concern that people who represent the church abide by the lifestyle expected of them."
In separate interviews with Anglican Journal, Arctic diocesan bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk and Bishop Robertson said they did not think the diocese was being discriminatory or that it violated the Canadian Human Rights Act by banning gays from employment and lumping them in the same category as pedophiles, who are considered criminal offenders.
"We are being honest and upfront. If we're honest how can we be discriminatory? This is what we believe in," said Bishop Robertson.
"We recognize the Human Rights Act and we respect it," said Bishop Atagotaaluk. "But those we hire have to also comply with and abide by our constitution."
(The Canadian Human Rights Act provides that "all individuals should have an equal opportunity with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society, without being hindered in or prevented from doing so by discriminatory practices based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for an offence for which a pardon has been granted.")
Questions were raised on the floor of synod, however, on how the employment conditions would be enforced. Bishop Atagotaaluk said that prospective employees would not be directly asked about their sexual orientation but whether they could comply with the conditions set forth in Canon 18.
Canon Linda Nicholls, co-ordinator for dialogue at the national church's faith, worship and ministry department, who attended part of the synod as an observer, said it was unclear what the clause, "supports and promotes such behavior, lifestyle or teaching," meant. "What if you have gay friends or relatives?" she asked.
Bishop Atagotaaluk acknowledged that this clause gives way to a number of interpretations but said that offhand, it meant those who support and promote the blessing of same-sex unions.
Bishop Robertson said that the ban extends only to the matter of employment and not to church attendance. "We are not going to refuse people communion. There will be none of that," he said.
Steve Schuh, president of the Vancouver chapter of Integrity, a support group for gay and lesbian Canadian Anglicans, said the synod's move to ban gays, lesbians and bisexuals as well as those who support them was discriminatory.
"I'm curious to know what kind of dialogue and study process the synod employed in coming to this decision. Did they intentionally involve gay and lesbian people as encouraged by General Synod (2004) or listen to the experience of homosexual Christians as directed by the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion (Lambeth Resolution 1998)?" he asked.
In an e-mail response to a request for comment from the Journal, Mr. Schuh said "it appears that the synod is trying to silence all dissent on this issue." He added: "There seems to be no respect for personal conscience, no appreciation for other points of view. Pretty soon they won't even need a 'talking circle' - no one with a differing opinion will dare speak up. It won't be safe."
Mr. Schuh said the synod's decision banning the employment of homosexuals would cause "irreparable harm" to young people struggling with their sexuality. "The Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reports gay kids are about five times more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide," he said. "Stories about gay suicides are familiar - even in First Nations communities - so it's surprising that the synod can't hear the message they're sending to young people when they brazenly encourage discrimination and disallow dissent."
Synod delegates also voted unanimously to adopt the Montreal Declaration, a statement of belief issued by three conservative Anglican groups during a meeting in 1994, as "reflective of the true values and foundation of our Anglican faith." The declaration, which led to the formation of Essentials (a group of Anglicans devoted to traditional biblical teachings), states, in part, that "the only sexual relations that biblical theology deems good and holy" are between husband and wife and that "adultery, fornication and homosexual unions are intimacies contrary to God's design."
The Nunatsiaq News quoted Haydn Schofield, archdeacon of the western Arctic, as having said that he initiated the motion to affirm the principles of the Montreal Declaration to make the northern churches' stance consonant with "a worldwide call to orthodoxy." In his motion, Mr. Schofield stated that there was a need "for a clear statement of faith in confusing times," particularly as the Anglican Church of Canada debates on issues "including the blessing of same-sex marriages and/or same-sex unions."
Archbishop John Clarke, bishop of Athabasca and metropolitan of Rupert's Land, also told the newspaper that the adoption of the declaration was necessary to protect the churches' right to refuse same-sex marriages, which the federal government wants to legalize. "What better way to protect yourself from future litigation than to have a clear statement of principles?" he said.
Meanwhile, the synod also:
June 10, 2005
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Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. Who'd a thunk?
Then where will the Democrats go to church?
Baba-dum-dum-dum
Perhaps some of the American Bishops will catch whatever this guy has.
The building, however, looks like a strong point on the Maginot Line. You can even see the gun ports for some 8 inch guns.
Quite right. It's discriminatory. So what? Any choice is discriminatory. The whole concept of religion is discriminatory, that some people will be saved and some will be damned on the basis of their belief and behavior.
"I'm curious to know what kind of dialogue and study process the synod employed in coming to this decision. Did they intentionally involve gay and lesbian people as encouraged by General Synod (2004) or listen to the experience of homosexual Christians as directed by the bishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion (Lambeth Resolution 1998)?" he asked.
They've been listening. Unfortunately for you, they've also been listening to the other side. And they reached a conclusion that's unfavorable to you; at least, as you see it, anyway. Just because someone listens to you doesn't mean they're going to come to agree with you.
In an e-mail response to a request for comment from the Journal, Mr. Schuh said "it appears that the synod is trying to silence all dissent on this issue." He added: "There seems to be no respect for personal conscience, no appreciation for other points of view. Pretty soon they won't even need a 'talking circle' - no one with a differing opinion will dare speak up. It won't be safe."
You can speak up. It'll be perfectly save. No good Anglican is going to assault you. They just won't let you be a leader for them.
Mr. Schuh said the synod's decision banning the employment of homosexuals would cause "irreparable harm" to young people struggling with their sexuality. "The Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health reports gay kids are about five times more likely to contemplate or attempt suicide," he said.
Perhaps it's the lack of self-esteem that leads both to homosexual behavior and suicide. Correlation is not causation.
"Stories about gay suicides are familiar - even in First Nations communities - so it's surprising that the synod can't hear the message they're sending to young people when they brazenly encourage discrimination and disallow dissent."
Dissent is allowed. Dissent from an organization's main principles while retaining membership in that organization is not allowed. Would you let someone stay a member of Integrity if they constantly talked about how wrong you were and argued that the principles of Integrity should be changed to work against gay rights?
****We are a religious organization that has a moral code that we abide by," said Larry Robertson, suffragan bishop of Mackenzie and Kitikmeot***
"It will be a cold day before we allow any of that homosexual garbage up here!" Bishop Robertson was later heard to say.
LOL!
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