The top Canadian Anglican leader has said the decision to exclude his Church from a leading body of the Anglican Communion is "regrettable but will have no practical effect."

Last week, the Anglican Consultative Council, a triennial gathering of top Anglican leaders, asked the Anglican Church of Canada to "voluntarily withdraw" from the ACC and the Inter-Anglican Finance group until 2008. The decision to revoke the Anglican Church of Canada's membership came after the Church's leaders defended their decision to authorise same-sex blessings in the New Westminster Diocese.

The resolution was adopted with a 30-28 vote, with four abstentions.

"We do regret the decision, although we note that it was adopted by an extremely narrow margin," said Canadian Anglican leader Archbishop Andrew Hutchison.

He affirmed in a statement that such a resolution would not have passed if the U.S. and Canadian Churches had been given a vote.

Hutchinson added that the Canadian Church along with the U.S. Episcopal Church did not have members on the two committees they were excluded from, and since they did not participants at the meeting, they were not eligible for election.

Wednesday's vote by the Anglican Consultative Council reaffirmed a decision made in February to exclude the U.S. and Canadian Churches.

The Anglican leader also expressed hope that the debates on homosexuality during recent days would cause the issue to be discussed in those parts of the Church where "they have not yet begun."

He said a full report would be made to the Canadian Church early this week.






Francis Helguero
Christian Today Correspondent