Jennifer Green of the Ottawa Citizen is on the scene of the Ottawa Synod meeting: NAV CANADA Conference Centre, Cornwall, Ontario. The first entry in her newly inaugurated blog covered Bishop John Chapman’s charge to the assembled clergy and laity.
This morning Ms Green reports on the debate on the controversial motion to recommend authorisation of same-sex blessings in the diocese. The first speakers expressed support for the motion, but then other voices came to the fore.
In Cornwall this morning, delegates lined up at the microphones by the dozens. The first speakers were uniformly in favour of the motion, saying to is an obvious step forward. After all, the diocese offers pension benefits to same sex couples. It seems absurd that it would not bless their existing marriages. But then more people spoke out against it and they did not seem like anti-gay Neanderthals.
She sounds surprised.
George Sinclair, pastor at St. Alban’s in Ottawa, said that if the church passed the motion, “We are saying we are smarter than Jesus. We are saying Jesus was wrong and we are right.”
Ms Green does not mention if anyone has raised the Windsor Report or the Dar es Salaam Communiqué.
The debate goes on. She promises to let us know the result of the vote as soon as it becomes available.
Next week, Montreal Synod will consider an almost identical motion.
UPDATE: Kendall Harmon gets the news out before Ms Green: The motion was passed 177 to 97.
One Ottawa Anglican appears to think it likely that Bp Chapman will accept the motion and allow SSBs in the diocese.
c/p: Magic Statistics
Jennifer Green’s reporting on these issues has been relatively fair, I think.
Mrs. Falstaff – I believe your Priest is George Sinclair, and I have to say that you have a wonderful man who will lead you graciously through whatever plans God has for your congregation. I have now finished grieving for the Anglican Church of Canada. I read Hebrews 6: 2 ff this morning and there is no turning back for the Church, we have to look forwards to the plan that is taking shape.
I cannot wait for the Network Consultation next month. We are now in a situation where we will have do something and do it quickly. If Bishop Chapman gives his approval and the Diocese of Montreal approves and their Bishop gives approval the only way to prevent a mass exodus of committed Orthdox Anglicans from the ACC is for the global south Primates in conjunction with Network to have a definitive plan in place by the time of the Consultation which will give us a reason to stay.
I am a Clergyman and my wife is ready to walk by Christmas. This leaves me in a difficult place. We really need to pray for discernment and the leading and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
God Bless
Fr. Brian+
So it’s down to Bp Chapman, then.
[...] the Diocese of Ottawa appears to make its choice, now it is up to the bishop to decide. I don’t know anything about Bishop Chapman, but [...]
PS The diocese of Calgary met this weekend too – I’ll update with anything of interest….
Pauline: Yup. Look up “beloved pastor” in the dictionary and you’ll see his picture!
I wish I could be finished grieving for the Anglican church, though. I’m not, not yet.
Father Brian: Bishop Don has written of the Network’s future plans here: http://www.anglicannetwork.ca/nl_101307.htm (I don’t remember how to make it clickable, I hope the computer does it automatically). Anyway, I am beginning to be impatient, too. I take comfort in the fact that my parish is sure to walk together, for the most part.
What I’m thinking right now is what Hebrews 6:4-8 says. It’s impossible to bring back to repentance those who’ve chosen to walk away from God and attempt to nail Jesus to the cross a second time. I’m also thinking of Jude 1:23. We’ve attempted to pull these burning souls out of the fire. We were to do this with caution; hating the sins that contaminate their lifes, but not the sinners. Well, it’s clear that these sinners refuse to come out of the flames. They are already deeply singed by the flames.
Can I still grieve for a church so far gone into apostacy? I’m not sure any more. Right now, I feel just plain sadness and pity for them who have chosen to walk away from our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Lord and Saviour. May God be with us all who’ve chosen not to follow these heretics into the flames.
Marg
Marg – Hebrews 6: 4-8 was the scripture given to me for this time. We must never give up on prayer for the Holy Spirit to work in individual lives, but to turn the Institution around is another thing entirely. It maybe that the a new Province built over time can be the seed for a new Anglican Church of Canada, but I think it will be broader geographically than the one we have now. I have a vision of all the great cathedrals in Canada packed with people worshiping Jesus – the new mega churches in a revival of faith.
You don’t really need or want that lifestyle, it might hurt y’all slowly more…….Just tell him you
don’t wanna repeat something your not too proud of z7uas.
[...] and request for prayer. This conference will be held in the light of the recent decisions by Ottawa, Montreal and Niagara for same-sex blessings (and in the latter case the decision of the Bishop to [...]