Posted on 11/14/2003 10:42:20 AM PST by ahadams2
Nov. 13, 2003. 11:08 PM
Anglican synod to meet on gay marriage
HAMILTON - The decision-making body of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara will gather for an unprecedented closed-door discussion this weekend. While the doors to Niagara synod's annual meeting will stay open to the media and public for most of the two-day meeting which starts today, a discussion on same-sex marriage slated for tomorrow morning will be held in-camera.
A source of profound discord among Anglicans across the diocese, the country and the world, Niagara synod's same-sex marriage discussion will be posted on the diocesan Web site but will not include speakers' names or their emotional state, says a diocesan press release.
"Our vision is that this is a time for the family to chat and a family discussing its future does not invite the neighbours," said Canon Charles Stirling, who helps oversee diocesan communications.
In previous years, the annual synod gathering, where 300-400 clergy and lay elders from the 125 Anglican parishes in Niagara Diocese set the annual budget and hear committee reports, has been entirely open to the media and public.
Aside from the issue of the ordination of women more than a quarter-century ago, the synod annual meeting has attracted little attention beyond the Anglican fold, Stirling said.
"I think people will feel much freer to make their contribution if they know their picture isn't going to turn up in the paper," he added.
The half-hour discussion of blessing same-sex unions will include an update on developments since last year's synod as well as "an opportunity to hear each other."
Since last year, the issue of homosexuality and gay marriage has blown up locally and internationally. Last August, Bishop Ralph Spence suspended the licence of a priest to perform marriages after the priest took part in a same-sex blessing.
Last month, overseas Anglican leaders moved closer to a permanent break with the U.S. Episcopal Church after the consecration of V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, as bishop of New Hampshire.
Anglican leaders in Asia, Africa and Latin America, who say they represent 50 million of the world's 77 million Anglicans, believe gay sex violates Scripture.
Meanwhile, parishes in the diocese of New Westminster, B.C., want to form their own diocese after the door was opened to same-sex blessings. A Yukon bishop faces disciplinary action for interfering in the New Westminster diocese and a Toronto priest was publicly admonished by the archbishop for performing a same-sex blessing.
The Primate of the Anglican Church, Michael Peers, who will be replaced next spring at a national synod scheduled for St. Catharines, is keeping his views on same-sex marriage to himself, as is Bishop Spence of Niagara.
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