From here:
The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada met in Halifax, Nova Scotia in June of 2010. Together we entered into intentional conversations in order to hear where our Church is at this time in its life in relation to the matter of blessing of same gender unions. Our conversations were marked by grace, honesty and generosity of spirit towards one another. There was robust participation in the conversations. In dialogue we shared our passion for the mission of God in the world and our thoughts, feelings and convictions. We were attentive to each others’ perspectives, experiences and stories and we shared a commitment to continued theological reflection and scriptural study as a foundation to our ongoing dialogue and discernment.We engaged these conversations within the particularity of our Canadian context – a country that is diverse and many cultured. Canadians have been learning how to dialogue across their diversities over the course of our national life. We do so with deeply held commitments to transparency and openness, an approach that is not without risk and that we affirm as a great gift. Often, in processes of discernment, the task is to see our way through a paradox .
Our conversations affirmed the full inclusion of gay and lesbian members in our churches, aboriginal voices in our midst, and the wide range of perspectives on the issue of same gender blessings across all dioceses. Our dialogue has been a positive and helpful step in our discernment. At this time, however, we are not prepared to make a legislative decision. Above, in and through all of this,and despite all our differences, we are passionately committed to walking together, protecting our common life.
We acknowledge diverse pastoral practices as dioceses respond to their own missional contexts. We accept the continuing commitment to develop generous pastoral responses. [David - I am quite sure that this will be interpreted as a green light for the local option by many dioceses] We recognize that these different approaches raise difficulties and challenges. When one acts there are implications for all. There can be no imposition of a decision or action for endorsement, but rather we are challenged to live together sharing in the mission of Christ entrusted to us, accepting that different local contexts call at times for different local discernment, decision and action.
We are in a time of ongoing discernment which requires mutual accountability through continuing dialogue, diocese to diocese and across the wider church. It also requires continued theological and scriptural study and dialogue on the wide range of matters relating to human sexuality.
For many members of General Synod there is deep sadness that, at this time, there is no common mind. We acknowledge the pain that our diversity in this matter causes. We are deeply aware of the cost to people whose lives are implicated in the consequences of an ongoing discernment process. This is not just an ‘issue’ but is about people’s daily lives and deeply held faith commitments. For some, even this statement represents a risk. For some the statement does not go nearly far enough.
In the transparency and openness we have experienced with one another, we have risked vulnerability but it is in such places that we grow closer in the body of Christ and behold each other as gift. Abiding With each other, and with God we are sustained through struggle , patient listening, and speaking from the mind and heart together. We have experienced these conversations as a gift for us here at Synod and hope that they will be a further gift to the Anglican Church of Canada and to the wider Church.
The report is nothing less than a political document designed to convince people that the church is transparent and open. Nothing could be further from the truth and that is proved by the actions against orthodox parishes in both British Columbia and Ontario. As orthodox believers we do affirm and include homosexuals but that does not mean, nor can it mean, that we affirm or bless their conduct any more than we can affirm or bless pedophiles, thieves, or whatever. The Scripture calls for repentance and that includes all of us. Regardless of this political document you simply cannot have unity between apostasy and orthodoxy despite the attempt to convince us that this is possible.
The ACoC needs a Primate and a House of Bishops that affirms both the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. This undoubtedly requires many to be removed from their positions and defrocked if they refuse to repent and be converted. Until that happens they are nothing less than wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Yet there was reported recognition that doing nothing was not an option, so what happens now?
…and further to that, if Synod thinks it can get off the hook with the Anglican Communion merely by sitting on the fence, it’s probably deluding itself.
I suppose it would be cynical of me to opine that the reason for that is that they know a motion to permit SSBs wouldn’t pass.
Any motion pertaining to ssb is catch 22 for the ACoC. If ssb is approved (even on a “local option”) it results the ACoC being gradually removed from the Worldwide Anglican Communion. If ssd is not approved it results in many of the HoB (perhaps as many as half?) being very upset and a possible ripping appart of the ACoC. Either way, not good for the ACoC. Possibe solutions? Talk, talk and more talk. Just keep on talking until those who are faithful to God are worn out, die off, or leave.
The BIG LIE underpinning this whole process is the false premise that the issue before the Synod represents “a debate” of two positions within the Church, rather than “an attack” on the theological foundations of the Church.
The rules of engagement for conducting a debate viz repelling an attack are obviously quite different. If one responds to an attack with a response approrpiate to a debate, the outcome will be self evident given enough time. And, therein lies the strategy of the attackers; keep the faux “debate” going until victory is assured.
Why should the National Church make a decision for which it will be held accountable when all it has to do is bide its time while the facts on the ground continue to evolve in its favour and eventually determine the matter. The National Church can then make its formal decision on the basis that it has no other choice because the Church has already spoken.
The unfortunate thing in all of this is that here in Canada, as well as in the US, the attackers are some of our own bishops who have erroniously concluded that pandering to society is the answer to reversing plummeting membership. Spurred on by a well orgainized but small pan-sexual minority within the Church, they are attempting to feather their own nests at the expense of the faithful who have bought into the “debate” charade – hook, line and sinker.
The orthodox faithful who have chosen to remain and to witness within the ACoC have, in my opinion, unintentionally added credibility to the “debate” charade by being held up as representing the “other side”.
Those of us who have already seen through this charade and have left the ACoC in order live out the balance our Christian lives in a more orthodox Anglican context, cannot but continue to pray for our orthodox Anglican brothers and sisters who remain trapped in that increasingly secular and organization.
Last sentence should have read “…who remain trapped in that increasingly secular and heretical organization.
Good question, though synod is not over yet. I didn’t expect too much from this Synod, divided as it is, but I do expect an explicit or implicit continuation of local option.
I’m one of those orthodox christians who has been staying and discerning what do do. I am following the synod to see where they were heading and will be leaving for the ANIC shortly. I came to the Anglican church as an unbeliever and have been taught the truth in my parish. It is so so sad to have to leave my birth place. But our leadership is so far off the truth and are leading many into lies and confusion. I will mourn for the Anglican and other churchs. Thank God for the brothers and sisters who went ahead and prepared a place for me to go and still remain in the beatiful Anglican tradition.