From BC Local News:
Anglican Church parish in Parksville expected to vote in support of same-sex marriage.
A parish council vote December 10 will affirm a local congregation’s support for the blessing of same-sex marital unions within the Anglican Church of Canada.
That according to Andrew Twiddy, reverend for the parish of St. Anne and St. Edmund in Parksville.
He said information he has gathered on an informal basis indicates “a great majority of the congregation is in favour of moving ahead on this. That’s witnessed I think by a vote in 2007 by the diocesan synod (a provincial legislature made up of elected representatives from every parish). Two-thirds of that group voted in favour of blessing same-sex unions.”
The contentious issue resulted in at least 10 vestries from dioceses across the country voting to leave the Anglican Church of Canada after the national governing General Synod agreed in 2007 that blessing rites for gay couples are “not in conflict” with core church doctrine — even though it refused to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer them.
Twiddy said efforts have been made to inform congregations across the country on both sides of the issue and added the Anglican Church of Canada will review the matter again as early as next summer.
“I think we may have reached the point of action. My guess is the [General Synod] will approve,” said Twiddy. “Every text has to be placed in context. The underlying message of justice and compassion is the bigger context of scripture … there’s a hardly a family anywhere that doesn’t have either gay family members or close friends or somebody. We’re doing this on behalf of a lot of people.”
He noted the local vote on Dec. 10 includes a proviso protecting clergy from participating in the blessing of same-sex unions in a manner contrary to their conscience.
Twiddy admitted the issue is creating divisions that make the prospect of divorce within the church very real.
“There are people very angry who say ‘we’ll cut all ties,’” but he added, “I’ve declared my position … people have said to me when there’s a decision in favour of this they will come back to the church … We don’t need conformity across the church to be a community.”
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OR…… Merry Christmas and “damned be him who first cries hold”
Thanks for the lead in Cathy.
P.S. For those who may be interested in this sort of thing the quote is from Shakespeare
Cathy your greeting is brilliant – I have to re-do all my Christmas cards! But this is soooo my kind of humour. Thanks again
Cathy your greeting is brilliant – I have to re-do all my Christmas cards! But this is soooo my kind of humour. Thanks again
Peter #100 – I understand why you might like a break but your wonderful blog is my break!
Merry Christmas
I pray that all of the bloggers here will have a Blessed, Christ filled Christmas Season and that your “holiday” will be used to take time to venture into an intimate one on one time with Jesus. It is such an exhilirating experience when one does take the time to meet Him.
To the Admin/Blog Staff, May God give you all rest and peace, the peace that passes all understanding.
Remember folks, “Jesus IS the reason for the Season”
Cathy – A special Merry Christmas to You and you questioned me as to what “Social justice” was????
Blessings,
I’m glad you liked it, I can’t take credit for the greeting tho, somebody sent it to me a couple years ago and I saved it.
Cathy (#107), the source of these sorts of things is very hard to trace, but it appears to have been circulating for at least 12 years (and is likley much older):
http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/blgreetings.htm
Merry Christmas to all!