Posted on 03/20/2004 10:46:54 AM PST by ahadams2
Anglicans in an uproar
By Michelle Hopkins
These are dark days for the Anglican Church.
The contentious and divisive issue of whether the church will agree to bless same-sex relationships is coming to the airways today (Saturday) in a live satellite teleconference addressing the growing crisis in the worldwide Orthodox Anglican community.
Locally, the issue has proven as divisive as it has globally.
Over at the Church of Emmanuel, Pastor Silas Ng and his congregation denounce homosexual unions.
At press time Ng was unavailable for comment but the parish secretary - who did not want her name printed - did confirm that parishioners have withdrawn funding to the diocese in protest of the decision of the Anglican Church to pursue same-sex blessings.
Pastor Andrew Pike of Richmond's St. Anne's Anglican Church, meanwhile, said he would sanction same-sex blessing, if more than 50 per cent of parishioners agreed to it.
It's an individual choice, he said.
"Every pastor has the right to say no to the blessing, it hasn't been mandated that pastors must bless same-sex unions."
So far, that hasn't happened.
Although there are homosexual members in Pike's parish, he hasn't been approached by anyone to bless their relationship.
Pike said he hopes the crisis doesn't completely split the church. Already, though, it is causing problems.
"It's already caused a great division in the Lower Mainland's 80 parishes," Pike said.
The root of the problem lies in scripture interpretation.
"That is at the heart of this crisis," said Pike.
Meanwhile, Pike wanted to clarify a misconception. The blessing the church talks of is not the same as marriage.
"There's a big difference between the two," he said. "I am totally opposed to same-sex marriages because, as Anglicans, marriage is defined as a holy act between a man and a woman with the intent of procreation."
The Anglican Church of Canada is set to consider the blessing of same-sex unions at its General Synod in May.
Across Canada there are about 800,000 members spread across 30 dioceses. It is the third largest Protestant denomination in the country.
The two-hour segment of the broadcast airs on television today at noon on NOW-TV Channel 10, Vancouver, Starchoice Channel 355, and ExpressView Channel 538.
That's fascinating, Christinity by vote. It more than 50 per cent of parishoners voted out the seven deadly sins, would he go along with that also?
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