From the Journal.
Bishop Robert Bennett of the diocese of Huron has asked a committee to begin to develop liturgies for a celebratory eucharist and prayers for same-gender couples, but the service will not provide a nuptial blessing. He announced the plan, which closely resembles an approach previously chosen by bishops in the diocese of Toronto, at the start of the Huron diocesan synod (annual meeting) taking place from May 24 to 26 in London, Ont.
Bishop Bennett asked the diocesan doctrine and worship committee to “synthesize and make available the most recent and relevant material to aid in this discernment” and then to “develop appropriate protocols, guidelines and evaluative tools to enable us to move forward with appropriate liturgies to celebrate the love, mutual fidelity and support that gay and lesbian Anglicans model every day for the church and wider community.” He said he envisions that the service would be “eucharistic in nature with approved intercessory prayers but with no nuptial blessing.”
Relevant documents include statements from the house of bishops, the Rothesay and Galilee reports released at the Council of General Synod’s (CoGS) meeting in May along with CoGS’ communiqués, the Windsor Report, the Anglican Consultative Council statements, communiqués from the primates (national archbishops), reflections from the Lambeth Conference (the decennial meeting of bishops in the world-wide Anglican Communion) and the Anglican Covenant process, he said.
In his written charge to the synod, Bishop Bennett confessed that he was “quite torn on the issue….On the one hand, I agree with the national house of bishops’ desire to ‘develop the most generous pastoral response possible within the current teaching of the church’. On the other hand, my catholic sensitivity of whom we are as church mandates that I take very seriously the Archbishop of Canterbury’s request that we embrace a ‘season of gracious restraint’ in the matter of same-gender blessings.
The diocese of Huron’s approach, he said, respects the moratoria requested by the international Anglican Communion on the blessing of same-sex unions, the ordination of bishops in same-sex relationships, and cross-border interventions. “For me, this season of ‘gracious restraint’ will take us to Halifax 2010. We find ourselves in an ‘in-between time’ that must be used to prepare for the national gathering and beyond,” he said. The next meeting of General Synod (the governing body of the Anglican Church of Canada) will be in Halifax in 2010.
Bishop Bennett said that initial reaction to his charge at the synod seemed “reasonably positive,” but a bishop’s charge committee would provide a formal response later in the meeting. Last year, the diocese voted to ask the bishop to give clergy permission to bless same-sex marriages “where at least one party is baptized” and to authorize an appropriate rite. Bishop Bruce Howe “gave concurrence” to the motion based on the large percentage of votes in favour but said he would consult with other bishops before acting. Bishop Howe retired in September and Bishop Bennett was elected.
The synod will also discuss the finances of the diocese that have been strained by sharply declining revenues from investment income, the closing or amalgamation of congregations which has the effect of reducing apportionment revenue, additional staff costs and unbudgeted litigation costs.
Former parishioners from St. Aidan’s Windsor initiated a lawsuit against the diocese for control of the church building after they voted to leave the Anglican Church of Canada over theological differences, including their opposition to the church’s position on same-sex blessings. Bishop Bennett said the lawsuit is a financial stress, but the diocese has an obligation to defend the small community of St. Aidan’s that remained and continues to be an integral part of the diocese.
Other major topics of discussion included a new strategic plan for the diocese, indigenous ministries and international partnerships.
The diocese of New Westminster synod met in Vancouver on May 23 and 24 where a motion to ask the bishop to increase the number of parishes where blessings can take place failed. There are currently eight parishes where the blessing is authorized and six more have asked for permission. The diocese voted in favour of blessing same-sex unions in 2002, but in 2005 agreed to freeze the number of parishes where the blessing is authorized. The vote to affirm the moratoria and not extend the number of parishes passed 142 to 123.
Bishop Michael Ingham thanked synod delegates for their “civility, respect and mutual listening” during the discussion. “We shall continue to hold out our witness for the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people and we shall continue to exercise generous restraint as requested by the Anglican Communion in order to facilitate this same process of consideration in other parts of our church.”
In spite of the claim of “gracious restraint”, it is clear that the course is set on SSBs. And, to state the obvious, no diocese of the ACoC is exercising any restraint whatsoever when it comes to lawsuits.
This is beginning to make me weary.
Ditto.
ANiC should respond with sort-of cross-border almost-interventions.
“What?! I’m not intervening in your diocese, Bishop. I’m just, uh, paying a social call! Yeah, that’s it!”
Ellie (#3) – that’s a brilliant idea!
But how many more folk are just going to up stakes and walk – into ANiC or another denomination entirely – and how many others are going to go through the angst – again – about what to do? And summer follows synod – and after the ‘summer sabbath’ it would be so easy not to return.
Growing up in the Pentecostal church was exciting because not everything was predictable. Looking back, I realize that such “excitement” was not always a good thing, but the ACoC is so predictable that some of the people who are leaving must be doing so out of sheer boredom. In my four years of observing the ACoC, every action and decision taken has been very much as I would have expected. It is ironic that the “leading of the Spirit” is so often mentioned in such a cold and calculating environment.
So does this mean they will bless monogamous gay partnerships only if they are NOT married? I suppose then married gay couples cannot receive the blessing, only those with the back door open to their relationship? Oh, I’m sorry. As I read this again, Bennett is simply leaving out any “nuptial” blessing from the liturgy. Oh, that makes it okay then. There is no violation of the marriage cannon, or the teaching of the church, or scripture, and certainly not the moratoria that have been encouraged to keep the Anglican Communion together. He is simply trying to be like Jesus, a loving shepherd to his flock. Why all the fuss guys? (Is sarcasm okay on this blog?)
“Bishop Bennett said the lawsuit is a financial stress, but the diocese has an obligation to defend the small community of St. Aidan’s that remained and continues to be an integral part of the diocese.”
Given similar statements by our own diocese in the past, I’d like to see some hard figures here. Or administer a polygraph test.
#6 If it isn’t, David is up the creek!
Without a paddle.
I was wondering how long it would take you to notice that. Not long, evidently….
I gather there was confusion over the NW vote but a few conservative voices from clergy and laity (youth) had the courage to speak up. Thanks be to God!
Gracious restraint has a meaning for me as follows: You who are Orthodox shut up and be good while we liberals use the facilities, structures and money of the institutional church to change the Gospel to suit our secular views, so that we can have a social gospel suiting the current mores of society.
After everyone leaves the church, what will happen to the beautiful, historic buildings?
The United Church has been decimated in southwestern Ontario.
Have the Anglicans not learned anything from the recent history of the United Church closings all over the district?
Gordon (#13), I imagine some of them will get turned into art studios/galleries and restaurants. Probably a better use than some of them are being put to currently.