Archbishop Colin Johnson said that he wanted his gay and lesbian colleagues “to share the joy”.
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A similar statement was issued by Bishop John Chapman, of the diocese of Ottawa. Michael Thompson, the church’s general secretary, said the electronic voting system at the General Synod, held north of Toronto, had initially miscoded his file on Monday, listing him as a lay person instead of a priest – causing the resolution to fail. The bishop’s replacement is being chosen at a diocesan synod in October.
However, where schools are deemed underperforming by the government and a decision is made to bring in another sponsor to takeover the school, the memorandum sets out that decisions to place a church school in a non-church trust must be agreed with the relevant church authority.
Synod delegates did approve a motion affirming the sanctity of same-sex relationships – a position the church adopted in 2004. This is an option I will be considering in the coming weeks.
Other dioceses are also saying they will go ahead despite the vote.
Whatever the consequences, they can take comfort in knowing they are on the right side of history.
LGBTQ Anglicans in Toronto learned they can finally get married Tuesday, capping a rollercoaster two days for the church.
The Anglican Church of Canada has narrowly voted against authorizing same-sex marriages after a almost week-long debate about blessing such unions at the church’s triennial conference.
“There’s been a lot of excitement especially this past year we’ve had a lot, even the Island’s church community has become very supportive”, he said.
In order for the resolution to pass, it required two-thirds support from each of three orders – the lay, clergy and bishops. The initial result was one vote short of what was needed to pass the measure in the Anglican church – the third largest in Canada.
“That is our reality”, Hiltz told stunned delegates.
“Same Sex marriage. In the church. In my lifetime”, tweeted Lauren Bryant-Monk, of Halifax.
“That is an issue of concern”, said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Canadian church.
At the General Synod 2013, a resolution passed that requested the Council of General Synod to present a motion to change the canon to allow same-sex marriage, requiring the vote of the General Synod 2016. Some wept openly, others embraced.
“It’s important I think for folks to hear the message that God loves them, that they are welcome in our communities, that they are important to us”, says Monette.
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“When you do it the fourth and fifth time and it’s the same, that’s just great”, he said.
