|
Anglicanism
Anglican Church of Canada
Festivals of Light
 |
My Sister and
Brothers in Christ:
In this season of Epiphany, as we celebrate the manifestation of God in
Christ, I greet you in the name of Jesus our Lord.
Let me begin by saying that we in the Anglican Church of Canada rejoice
in the fellowship we share throughout the Communion. We embrace
wholeheartedly the Five Marks of Mission for the Anglican Communion. We
value international relationships developed over many years and we
cherish the opportunity to participate in the work of global commissions
and networks. We treasure our friendship in Christ.
In the six months that I have been Primate of our beloved church in
Canada, I have repeatedly made reference to those things that draw us
together as Anglicans in this country and throughout the world. There
are, of course, the commonly held Instruments of Communion – the
Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conference, the Primates' Meeting
and the Anglican Consultative Council. To these four, Canadian priest and
liturgist Paul Gibson has suggested adding a fifth – not legislated but
real – the Eucharist. I would also add the Cycles of Prayer used within
dioceses, provinces and the Communion; Companion Diocese relationships
that span the globe; and churches acting together in relief, development,
and justice work throughout the world.
I have also, as I have traveled and spoken to many groups among the
faithful, made frequent reference to the Mission Statement of the
Anglican Church of Canada, which begins with these two sentences:
"As a partner in the worldwide Anglican Communion and in the
universal Church, we proclaim and celebrate the gospel of Jesus Christ in
worship and action. We value our heritage of biblical faith, reason,
liturgy, tradition, bishops and synods, and the rich variety of our life
in community."
In the spirit of that statement and in the interest of clarity I feel it
is important to write to you regarding conversations dealing with the
blessing of same-sex unions in Canada. I hope to dispel rumour or
misunderstanding by sharing with you what is actually happening.
Since the late 1970s there has been a long and significant history of
statements from our House of Bishops and from our General Synod that have
affirmed the place and contributions of gays and lesbians in the life of
our church. Since the early 1990s our General Synod, a gathering of more
than 300 bishops clergy and lay people that meets every three years, has
devoted major blocks of time to consider the blessing of committed
same-sex unions. We understand such unions as adult, monogamous, intended
lifelong, same-sex relationships that include sexual intimacy. These
conversations have evolved over a significant period of time. It is
important to note that the Anglican Church of Canada has not altered its
doctrine of marriage as outlined in our prayer books and canons. We do,
however, live in a country where the federal Government in 2005 approved
legislation that allows the marriage of same-gender couples.
I believe that the manner in which the blessing of same-sex unions has
been and continues to be discussed throughout our church is comprehensive
and respectful of diversity of perspective. As a church, we welcome and
respect freedom of individual conscience and the theological convictions
of our diverse membership. Our General Synods have consistently sought to
honour every voice as we work patiently through this contentious and
difficult issue.
In June, 2007, the General Synod received and concurred with the opinion
of the St. Michael Report, prepared by the Primate's Theological
Commission, (a group of 12 theologians from diverse perspectives) that
the blessing of same-sex unions is a matter of doctrine, but not creedal.
In other words, while this matter relates to important questions of
doctrine, it is not ranked alongside doctrines such as the Trinity, the
Incarnation, the Passion and Death of Christ, the Resurrection and the
Holy Spirit. The 2007 General Synod asked the Primate to request the
Primate's Theological Commission to consult with dioceses and parishes
and to report in advance of our next General Synod in 2010 on:
• The theological question of whether the blessing of same-sex unions
is a faithful, Spirit-led development of Christian doctrine;
• Scripture's witness to the integrity of every human person and the
question of the sanctity of human relationships.
I have responded to
this request and the Primate's Theological Commission has begun working
on these matters.
General Synod also endorsed an April 2007 statement from the Canadian
House of Bishops making provision for what was described as "pastoral
generosity," whereby gay and lesbian couples who have been civilly
married might ask the church for prayers for their relationship. These
petitions, not to be confused with a nuptial blessing, would be offered
in the context of the prayers of the people within a Eucharist. Requests
for this provision have been granted in a number of places.
Notwithstanding the fact that the 2007 General Synod defeated a
resolution, "affirming the authority and jurisdiction of a diocesan synod
with the concurrence of its bishop and in a manner respecting the
conscience of the incumbent and the will of the parish to authorize the
blessing of same sex unions," three dioceses -- Ottawa, Montreal and
Niagara -- have since voted by strong majorities to request their bishop
to consider authorizing public rites for the blessing of same-sex couples
who are civilly married.
I believe these resolutions present an opportunity to test the mind of
the local church and the results speak of a pastoral need that cannot be
ignored. In each case the bishop has indicated that he will consult
widely before making a decision.
General Synod 2007 also concurred by resolution with the opinion of the
St. Michael Report that the blessing of same-sex unions should not be a
communion-breaking issue. Nonetheless some people feel compelled to leave
our church over this issue. Their decision is regrettable given the fact
that the bishops have made adequate and appropriate provision for the
pastoral care and episcopal support of all members of our church
including those who find themselves in conscientious disagreement with
the view of their bishop and synod. These provisions are contained in a
document known as Shared Episcopal Ministry approved by the House of
Bishops in November 2004 and commended in September 2006 by an
international Panel of Reference appointed by the Archbishop of
Canterbury.
In light of these provisions, as well as of ancient canons of the church,
statements of successive Lambeth Conferences, the Lambeth Commission on
Communion (the Windsor Report), and the 2005 and 2007 communiqués from
the Primates, we believe that recent interventions by another province in
the internal life of our church are unnecessary and inappropriate. Our
concern was voiced publicly in recent statements by the Council of
General Synod (Nov. 16, 2007) and in a joint Pastoral Statement from
myself and the Canadian Metropolitans (Nov. 29, 2007). I have appealed to
the Archbishop of Canterbury in his capacity as one of the Instruments of
Communion and as chair of the Primates' Meeting to address the very
serious issues raised by this intervention and to make clear that such
actions are not a valid expression of Anglicanism.
It is important to note that while some choose to leave our church over
this issue a great many more, even in the midst of great personal
struggle, choose to remain within our fellowship. We recognize and honour
their intentions to do so.
As these conversations continue in Canada, there will be a focus on
questions centered on scripture. The St. Michael Report acknowledges,
"the interpretation of Scripture is a central and complex matter and
that, at times in the Church's history, 'faithful' readings have led to
mutually contradictory understandings, requiring ongoing dialogue and
prayer towards discernment of the one voice of the gospel." We remain
committed to this dialogue.
Two other significant questions that also come directly from the St.
Michael Report will also be considered:
1. "Is it theologically and doctrinally responsible for one member
church of the Communion to approve a course of action which it has reason
to believe may be destructive of the unity of the Communion?"
2. "Is it theologically and doctrinally responsible to accept unity
as the value which transcends all others, and therefore for a member
church of the Communion to refrain from making a decision when it
believes it has an urgent gospel mandate to proceed?"
I believe that Canadian Anglicans are strongly committed to the highest
degree of Communion possible in our life in Christ at home and throughout
the world. This was clearly demonstrated in our General Synod response to
the Windsor Report, which stated:
The Anglican Church of Canada:
1. reaffirms its commitment to full membership and participation in
the life, witness and structures of the Anglican Communion;
2. reaffirms its commitment to the Lambeth Quadrilateral, as received
by our church in 1893;
3. expresses its desire and readiness to continue our participation
in the ongoing life of the Communion through partnerships and visits,
theological and biblical study, in order to foster Communion
relationships, including the listening process and the development and
possible adoption of an Anglican covenant;
4. reaffirms its mutual responsibility and interdependence with our
Anglican sisters and brothers in furthering the mission of the church;
5. notes that, in response to the Windsor Report, the Diocese of New
Westminster expressed regret, and the House of Bishops effected a
moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions, and
6. calls upon those archbishops and other bishops who believe that it
is their conscientious duty to intervene in provinces, dioceses and
parishes other than their own to implement paragraph 155 of the Windsor
Report and to seek an accommodation with the bishops of the dioceses
whose parishes they have taken into their own care; and
7. commits itself to participation in the Listening Process and to
share with member churches of the Communion the study of human sexuality
which continues to take place, in the light of Scripture, tradition and
reason.
This letter is intended to give you a factual, accurate and up-to-date
picture of the state of the conversation regarding the blessing of
same-sex unions in the Anglican Church of Canada.
I look forward to meeting you at Lambeth and to the opportunity to share
face to face in conversation, fellowship and the proclamation of the
Gospel. I pray that through grace we will maintain a capacity for
respectful dialogue, a tolerance for diversity of opinion and a vision
for the church that is as inclusive as the loving embrace of Our Lord
Jesus Christ in the crèche and on the cross, in the River Jordan and in
highest heaven.
In Him I am
Sincerely yours
The Most Reverend Fred Hiltz
Primate
The Anglican Church of Canada
The
Primate on-line |
