A governing body in the Anglican Church of Canada pushed-off a decision on same-sex union blessings until 2007 and suggested the issue was "a matter of doctrine" that should be considered by the entire church body.

After a three-day meeting in Mississauga, Ontario, the Council of the General Synod concluded that it is not up to individual diocesan synods and bishops to decide whether gay unions should be blessed in parishes since the matter has become of great theological significance in the church.

"We believe that this issue has become a matter of such theological significance in the Church that it must be addressed as a matter of doctrine," the report, released Saturday, read.

The report was released amidst heightened tensions between the North American Anglican churches and the international Anglican Communion over the homosexuality debate.

Although the U.S. and Canadian bodies never set doctrines encouraging same-sex union blessings, the two denominations allowed dioceses, priests and bishops to decide on the matter individually. Going further, the U.S. church in 2003 elevated an active homosexual priest as bishop, sparking an international backlash from conservative Anglican leaders in the South.

In recent months, the North American bodies were singled out and asked to "voluntarily withdraw" their memberships from an international gathering because of their unorthodox views on homosexuality and were encouraged to place moratoria on both same-sex union blessings and ordinations.

The bishops from the U.S. church last month agreed to all three suggestions but with several reservations: they halted same-sex union blessings but gave room for "pastoral discernment" by individual priests to possibly continue such celebrations; they placed a moratorium on ordaining gay priests but stopped elevating heterosexual bishops as well; they decided to withdraw from the international gathering but will send representatives to view the meeting.

Similarly, the Canadian Anglican Church leaders voted last week to "attend but not participate" in the international Anglican Consultative Council meeting set for June, and loosely halted the blessing of same-sex marriages.

At last week’s meeting, the Canadian leaders recommended the General Synod – the church’s chief governing and legislative body, which meets every three years – decide on the doctrine of same-sex marriage for the entire church, rather than allowing individual parishes decide on the matter.

According to the Canadian leaders, the "blessing of committed same-sex unions is tied to the question of how all sexuality....participates in our redemption."

"It seems to us that this issue is fundamentally related to the doctrines of salvation (soteriology), incarnation, the work of the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), our creation in the image of God (theological anthropology), sanctification, and holy matrimony," the statement read.

Any decisions by the General Synod must be approved by all three levels of the governing body - clergy, bishops and lay people - at two separate meetings, three years apart.

The next meeting is in 2007.






Pauline J. Chang
Christian Today Correspondent