Anglican church gay rights
Church of England says a ‘profound disagreement’ remains on homosexuality
LONDON — The Church of England’s governing body will debate adopting fresh commitments on homosexuality and same-sex couples when it meets later this month, it said on Friday, acknowledging that there remained “profound disagreement” on the matter.
The Church of England — central to the Anglican Communion of 85 million believers across the world — does not allow same-sex marriage, standing by its teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman.
However, the centuries-old institution has been wrestling with ways to make people in the LGBTQ community feel more inclusive in its churches, and it has apologized for the “hostile and homophobic response” some had faced.
The Synod, which consists of bishops, clergy and lay members, last November narrowly voted to back special services to protect same-sex couples on a trial basis, although Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby — spiritual head of the Anglican church — abstained from that vote.
“Synod has set a clear direction for us to move forward, but the
What’s going on? This is the questions that I possess been asked moment and time again this week as news of the split within the Australian Anglican Church reached Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike. The creation of the Diocese of the Southern Cross, led by those that oppose the blessing of same-sex marriages, has caused confusion and distress across the Church and beyond.
Let me elaborate its complicated backstory, and perhaps dispel some of the confusion — if not the distress.
Divisions over same-sex marriage
Earlier this year I was part of the editorial committee for the revision of the Principles of Canon Statute Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion. Now in its second edition, the Principles have been described as a fifth “instrument of unity” in the Anglican Communion. However, despite their best endeavors the committee were unable to detect a common law in relation to who may commit whom. The committee therefore took the unusual step of inserting a expression on their reasoning for the removal of the doctrine from the revision. The statement reads:
As stated in the
Church of England fails to unite behind same-sex marriage
The Church of England voted to keep a bar on officiating same-sex marriage on Thursday but agreed to allow priests to bless same-sex marriages and civil partnerships.
The General Synod — the Church's governing body made up of elected bishops, clergy and lay people — backed the compromise proposal after eight hours of debates across two days.
The wedding offer also included an apology to LGBTQ people for failing to welcome them into the Church.
It comes after half a decade of wrangling to transport the Church up-to-date on same-sex marriage — which was legalized in the UK in
"For the first time, the Church of England will publicly, unreservedly and joyfully welcome same-sex couples in church," Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell said.
But the offer of blessings has been derided as meaningless after the Synod voted not to change the rules that bar Anglican priests from officiating same-sex marriages.
Same-sex marriage opposers face criticism
Progressive members of the Church ha
Sexuality and Identity: A Pastoral Statement from the College of Bishops
January
Preamble
The Bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) offer this pastoral declaration to the Church after prayer, study, careful listening to disparate voices, and a collaborative process involving contributions from across the Province. As a product of this process, we have become even more acutely aware of the power we all require to live faithfully in Jesus Christ as He redeems the whole of our identity, including our sexuality.
The College of Bishops asked for the formation of this statement in January of after we heard reports of varied application among ACNA leaders regarding the use of language about sexual culture, especially within provincial events. We recognize there are a multiplicity of realities in our current national, political, and global circumstances into which an episcopal voice could be presented. In the midst of this tragic pandemic, we want to continue to minister the Gospel into all aspects of our prevalent life that have been distorted by sin such as racism, p