Canadian Primate Hiltz on the Possibility of a Canadian Anglican Split

Comment on Archbishop Hiltz' interview with the National Post over at the Anglican Essentials Blog. On the subject of conservative Anglicans who are considering separation from the ACC, the Primate is quoted as saying:

There may come a point we have to acknowledge that and respect their decision. It’s not what any of us want, but it’s what happens sometimes. If they feel they cannot stay and withdraw other parishes with them, obviously it’s a sad moment for the Church. But I also think at that point you don’t fight. You don’t fight. You have to acknowledge the situation, acknowledge the pain, acknowledge the brokenness. It’s the kind of stuff that drives the Church to its knees.

Personally, I find that encouraging and a much finer response than our brothers and sisters to the south are experiencing from Archbishop Hiltz' counterpart down there.

LORD, have mercy on us all.

Read the whole post here.

Ottawa Synod

So the Diocese of Ottawa has moved closer to the precipice with same sex couples and marriage. LORD, have mercy. See the Anglican Journal story here.

The last General Synod resolution claiming that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of The Anglican Church of Canada opened the door. If it is not in conflict, why not go ahead? After all, the same General Synod only narrowly defeated the resolution affirming the authority and jurisdiction of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of its bishop, to authorize the blessing of committed same sex unions. Besides, New Westminster got away with it. At the moment, there is no real way to discipline such actions.

I voted against both motions; the first because I believe SSBs are in conflict with core Christian, if not Anglican, doctrines of Creation, and the Nature of Men and Women; the second because diocesan synods do not have the authority to go against the clear teaching of Scripture.

This is simply, tragically wrong.

The Synod of the Diocese of Montreal is about to meet and consider the same resolution.

Christ, have mercy.

How the Light Gets In: General Synod 2007

That our erstwhile Primate should give Leonard Cohen the last word in his remarks at the opening service of General Synod 2007 in Winnipeg sticks in my mind. The words were:

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

They come from “Anthem,” a song on Cohen’s 1992 album The Future. They were delivered in the context of what Archbishop Hutchinson was saying about grappling with moral theology in the serious and potentially divisive issues we face.

Although Cohen is a Canadian icon and no mean poet, and although I appreciate the idea that the light of Jesus can, indeed, get in despite the "cracks" and imperfections in our lives, Cohen is far from a credible authority on matters of moral theology. The title track on that same album begins like this:

Give me back my broken night
my mirrored room, my secret life
it's lonely here,
there's no one left to torture
Give me absolute control
over every living soul
And lie beside me, baby,
that's an order!

Give me crack and anal sex
Take the only tree that's left
and stuff it up the hole
in your culture
Give me back the Berlin wall
give me Stalin and St Paul
I've seen the future, brother:
it is murder.

Not much light getting in through that particular crack.

The crack in the hull of a ship (or nave) is how the water that sinks it gets in. I am uncomfortably reminded of the “unsinkable” Titanic.

And was there the suggestion that a crack (or schism) in our ACC fabric would be a good thing, or is that just me?

It's quiet out there

Back home after General Synod 2007. Resting and wondering. Things have gone quiet in the Blogosphere as I write.

In the meantime, the latest Anglican Essentials Report has reponses from both the Federation and the Network:

A Message from the Anglican Essentials Federation…

Canadian Anglicans have been left trying to grasp all the implications of passing a motion declaring the blessing of same-sex relationships as “not in conflict” with Anglican doctrine – while, at the same time, rejecting the “local options” motion. Within that tension, we now await the response of the rest of our Communion and will be looking to the Communion for guidance in the work of answering the many questions this Synod has raised but not clearly answered.

The Federation gratefully acknowledges the bishops who gave leadership in these crucial debates – as well as the delegates who bravely championed orthodox views.

Please see our website for more information about Federation: www.anglicanfederation.ca

A Message from the Anglican Network in Canada…

Conflicting decisions of General Synod have once again caused confusion among Canadian Anglicans. By declaring that same sex blessings are not in conflict with Anglican core doctrine, while not proceeding with the explicit authorization of same sex blessings on a local option, many have been left wondering what it all means. Despite the news headlines, the Network believes the Anglican Church of Canada did NOT close the door on same sex blessings at General Synod but, in fact, opened the (doctrinal) side door for these blessings.

In addition to the above, by overwhelmingly refusing to take the steps specifically requested by the Primates, they have failed to repair the bonds of communion with the global church. In light of the Dromantine and Dar es Salaam Communiqués, we believe the Primates will see these actions as a clear indication that the Anglican Church of Canada has chosen to “walk apart”.

We are committed to remaining in full communion with the overwhelming majority of global Anglicans, who are, like us, committed to historic, biblically-faithful Anglicanism. We look forward to the response of the Primates to clarify what has happened and will be consulting with our membership regarding the best way forward in light of these decisions.

Please see our website for more information about Network: www.anglicannetwork.ca

It's quiet out there...too quiet?

Local Option Checked at the Brink: General Synod 2007

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada narrowly avoided affirmation of a "local option" for dioceses to authorize the blessing of committed same sex unions. The resolution was passed in the Orders of Laity and Clergy (Laity voting 78 for and 59 against; Clergy, 63 for and 53 against but was defeated by the Order of Bishops (19 for, 21 against). A vote by Orders requires that a resolution be passed in each of the three Orders in order to be carried.

There's a blow-by-blow over at the Essentials LiveBlog here.

This evening I gave the Primate's farewell banquet a miss to walk over to Norwood to see where we lived when Anthony was born 31 years ago. A lovely long walk to work the stresses out. I certainly feel better than I did at lunch time after the doctrine resolution.

The Anglican Church of Canada Resolves that the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with its Core Doctrine: A Day of Great Sadness

On the Feast of the Birth of St John the Baptist at 1045am, Medicine Hat time, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada resolved that the Bible is incorrect on the subject of homosexual behaviour, that the tradition and teaching of the one holy and catholic church has been incorrect and that the people who wrote The Windsor and St Michael reports were not hearing the Holy Spirit, and neither are the Primates or our own House of Bishops.

An Open Letter to the Members of General Synod 2007 from the Zacchaeus Fellowship

The folks at Zacchaeus Fellowship are

men and women who have struggled with same-sex attractions, we seek to be a voice of hope to the church and to others who share these struggles. We encourage the Church to stand firm in proclaiming to everyone who experiences same-sex attractions that Christ offers them new life and hope.

We know what it's like to have homosexual feelings. Yet we also have come to accept the Biblical teaching that all sexual relations outside heterosexual marriage are contrary to God's Will as declared in Holy Scripture.

They have written an open letter to the members of General Synod 2007.

As men and women who have experienced same-sex attraction in our own lives and who still strive to live chastely in accordance with traditional Christian teaching, the members of Zacchaeus Fellowship are gravely concerned by the motions before Synod that would bless and affirm same-sex unions.

Contrary to what is implicitly suggested by the recent direction of our Anglican Church of Canada, not all persons with same-sex attractions want these attractions affirmed. We are especially concerned for those whom we describe as “silent sufferers” in the pews. These are the many individuals who adhere to the traditional Christian teaching on sexuality and wish for the church neither to condemn them as persons nor to encourage them to act on those same-sex attractions. To approve Resolution A186 or A187 would pull the rug out from under such people.

Please be warned that the current controversy is not simply about inclusion of those who are in same-sex unions. While we concur with the consensus to include all persons in our church, we believe a misperception has arisen, namely, that accepting persons of homosexual orientation must lead to the accepting of same-sex unions/marriages. In fact, no one is excluded from our church because of sexual orientation; the rite of baptism includes us all.

Read it all.