From here:
May 28, 2010
Dear members of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada,
It is a privilege to represent Zacchaeus Fellowship as an exhibitor at General Synod 2010. As you may be aware, the Zacchaeus Fellowship is a fellowship of men and women who hold to the church’s historic view on sexuality in the face of former or present struggles with same-sex attractions. God has been good to us. We have encountered Christ in our lives, and have found new life in him. We take Romans 12:1-2 seriously and our experience is that faithfulness and obedience to Christ is the only sure way to spiritual fulfillment and happiness.
General Synod 2007 left the members of the Zacchaeus Fellowship shell-shocked by the fact that the church we love has now become an unsafe place for individuals who experience same sex attractions and adhere to the biblical and traditional teaching concerning sexuality. In fact, we have become the new minority in the Anglican Church of Canada. Many of our members have found it difficult to remain in the Anglican Church of Canada with its trend to affirm homosexual relationships and have moved on to the Anglican Church in North America and other denominations. But those of us who remain in the Anglican Church of Canada remain because of our love for the church, and of our concerns for those who suffer silently in their pews, with issues regarding unwanted same-sex attractions.
We are here for the silent sufferers in your midst, to be their support, to walk with them, and to offer ourselves as resources for parishes and dioceses. We long to share with you the great transformative work the Lord is doing in our lives. Some of our members, both lay and clergy, are available to lead workshops and offer personal testimony. You may contact us by visiting us at our booth in the General Synod Marketplace or through our website: http://www.zacchaeus.ca
On behalf of the entire membership of Zacchaeus Fellowship we thank our brave friends who uphold the church’s historic teaching concerning sexuality in the Anglican Church of Canada.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ? this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God?s will is ? his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Yours sincerely in Christ,
The Rev’d Dr. Dawn McDonald, Chair
The Rev’d Dr. Don Alcock, Vice-Chair
Mr. Daryle Duke, executive lay member
As has been passed practice and noticed elsewhere this truth hasn’t a snowballs chance at synod of getting any notice. But the attempt and its failure is damning.
Can someone help me understand what
“the church we love has now become an unsafe place for individuals who experience same sex attractions and adhere to the biblical and traditional teaching concerning sexuality ” actually means?
Is the Anglican Church of Canada now forcing sexual activity on people who believe they should be celibate? Are they being accosted with a shouting chorus of “non-fornicator, begone?” Is the Monty Python team really running the agenda for General Synod?
Or, more seriously, is the pastoral guidance to priests unclear that whose who believe that they are experiencing “unwanted same-sex attractions” should not be encouraged to act on the attraction?
Come on, Henry, you know better. The point is, that ACoC is an unsafe place for people who have unwanted same sex attraction, because they will be told that it is ok to act on it, rather than be encouraged in the walk that they have chosen.
Classic case of having your cake and choking on it.
Kate @ #3-that would be pretty much my final point. But
I really do admit that I’m surprised that the perception
is that every priest is that “liberal”. I know several
still ACoC clergy who are pretty vocal on their
non-acceptance of same-sex relationships
According to some, there might now be obstacles placed, but one of these was ordained
less than five years ago.
I don’t think that’s the implication. I think they were talking in more general terms.
For #5 Henry Troup:-
I note your comment that there are many priests within the ACoC that are non-acceptance of same-sex relationships. In the Diocese of New Westminster the so-called conscience clause mandates that the priest refer persons to an accepting priest. That is really forcing acceptance of this apostasy. If the said priests are prepared to live with such an arrangement, I would have to question their commitment to orthodoxy and the authority of Scripture. If the upcoming Synod continues to allow the reign of apostasy to continue I would have to question the sincerity of any bishop, priest or lay person who is content to remain in the ACoC. This Synod could be the last possible chance for the ACoC to return to the truth.