Continuing the story about the Anglicans blessing gays, the Canadian Press reports as follows in two articles republished on 365gay (Canadian Anglicans Prepare To Vote On Same-Sex Blessings 19.6.07 and Canadian Anglicans Step Back On Blessing Gay Unions 24.6.07).
http://tinyurl.com/2zfbtv
http://tinyurl.com/2hbta5
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The Anglican Church of Canada [voted] on blessing same-sex unions […] at its [triennial] General Synod in Winnipeg.
The issue has divided Canada's two million Anglicans - the country's third largest religious denomination - and could ultimately lead to a split from the worldwide communion. […]
Canadian Anglicans inched closer towards blessing same sex unions, but stopped short of giving priests the power to perform ceremonies.
The Anglican Church of Canada agreed that same sex blessings do not conflict with its core doctrine, a decision that paves the way for the practice.
But ultimately, delegates voting Sunday [24.6.07] at the General Synod rejected the idea of letting individual dioceses decide whether their priests could perform blessing ceremonies for same sex couples who were married in civil ceremonies.
"So on the one hand, we said it is a matter of doctrine, but not credal, that is, not essential to one's salvation, shall we say. But on the other hand, the church is not prepared... to proceed immediately with the blessing of same sex unions," said Archbishop-elect Fred Hiltz […].
Supporters and opponents of same sex blessings call the decisions confusing.
"It is a very confusing message to be sending. It's taking with one hand and giving with the other," said Chris Aimbidge, President of Integrity Canada, a lobby group that supports same sex blessings.
Cheryl Chang, a spokeswoman for Anglican Essentials, a group lobbying against same sex blessings, said she believes confused and frustrated parishioners will start finding other churches immediately.
"People (will) leave to go to the Catholic church, the Baptist church, the Pentecostal church. That's going to happen starting next Sunday, or next Monday even," Chang said.
"These are decisions that are very confusing for the church, and ultimately, very divisive."
Both resolutions were widely supported by both clergy and laity in Sunday's votes, but needed the support of the bishops in order to pass.
The bishops narrowly accepted the resolution on doctrine by just two votes. However, when it came to allowing same sex blessing ceremonies, the bishops voted 21 to 19 against the idea.
Though the church hasn't approved the practice, observers say the foundation has been laid for same sex blessings in Canada. […]
The Anglicans' vote follows a similar one by Canada's Evangelical Lutheran Church, held Saturday [23.6.07] in Winnipeg.
Canadian Evangelical Lutherans are in full communion with the Anglican Church of Canada, meaning ordained ministers can officiate in either church. Similarly, baptized members can transfer between the two churches.
With roughly 180,000 members, the Evangelical Lutherans form the largest Lutheran denomination in Canada.
