General Synod closed its fourth full day, June 23, with the major questions over the blessing of same-sex unions still pending. But it looked increasingly likely that failing a negative vote in the Order of Bishops, "local option" for dioceses to authorize such blessings would be granted.
In a morning vote which followed a strong presentation by Bishop Victoria Matthews of Edmonton, Synod approved an amended version of Resolution A184 that "the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine, but is not core doctrine in the sense of being credal." After an extended afternoon devoted to an often heartfelt, but generally respectful dialogue held in "Committee of the Whole," much of the evening session then became preoccupied with procedural questions. The net result was that proposed motion A185 that Resolutions A186 and A187 "be deemed to have been carried" only by a 60% majority of "the members of each Order present and voting" was defeated.
The key resolutions that "the blessing of same-sex unions is not in conflict with the core doctrine of The Anglican Church of Canada" (A186, as amended) and that "this General Synod affirm the authority and jurisdiction of any diocesan synod, with the concurrence of its bishop, to authorize the blessing of committed same sex unions" (A187) thus required only a straight 50% majority to pass on resumption of debate, June 24.
An earlier attempt to advance consideration of an attempted "consensus" resolution moved by this blogger and the Rev. Ajit John of the Diocese of Toronto ahead of debate on A185-7 failed to attract the necessary 66% majorities in the Orders of Bishops and Clergy and Laity that it required to pass. The subsequent debate on "local option" and related issues was often contentious and threatened to be deeply divisive in the event, as seemed quite possible at the time of writing, that the blessing of same-sex unions were approved. With an apparent majority in favour of such action among clergy and laity, much seemed to depend on whether Canadian bishops would exercise restraint in the interests of preserving a maximum degree of unity not only within the Anglican Church of Canada, but within the Anglican Communion as a whole.
2 comments:
As the bishops vote second on this, they will have the benefit of gauging the degree of lay/clergy support.
If it is close they may be more inclined to show restraint, if it "appears" that over 60% are in favour the "swing" bishops may be more inclined to give approval . . . as they seem more responsive to being tossed to and fro.
Then again . . are the bishops ready to take responsibility for this? As they vote second, and the hurdle to pass the motions so low, they are the ones who have the real power to put a cork in this for now. They may even be informed by the Lutheran decision to Not Bless.
I have ben praying for the Synod for some time and after hearing from some of the delegates, I believe that the Holy Spirit was present and working in that place. Thanks be to the Bishops for listening to the Holy Spirit. Nothing would be gained by splitting the church.
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