The Council of General Synod (CoGS) meeting held in Mississauga, Ontario between 6-8 May has concluded, and it was decided that the members of Anglican Church of Canada should attend the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) meeting next month, but not participate in its discussions.

The decision is the response to a request released in a communiqué during the Primate's meeting in February in Northern Ireland where the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church of the United States (ECUSA) were asked to voluntary withdraw its members from the ACC for the period leading up to the next Lambeth Conference in 2008.

According to released statement "the Council of General Synod affirms the membership of the Anglican Church of Canada in the Anglican Consultative Council with the expectation that the duly elected members attend but not participate in the June 2005 meeting of the Council."

Therefore, as it stands members to the ACC from both mentioned churches will attend the meeting but will not take part in discussions and voting.

Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, said that the decision conforms to the primates' request, since the voluntary withdrawal did not necessarily mean total absence from the meeting.

Also, the North American churches were invited to send representatives to a "consultation" process at the meeting, as requested also by the primates, who have called it a "hearing."

Each church has been given an hour and a half to "set out the thinking behind the recent actions of their provinces" concerning human sexuality.

At the conclusion of the meeting, CoGS approved the message for the members of the Anglican Church of Canada.

"Since the mid 1970s our church has been engaged in a conversation through study, discussion and meeting - in the House of Bishops, General Synod, dioceses and parishes - about the place of gays and lesbians in our Church," cited from the letter.

It also includes an explanation of the process of the hearing, and the responses to the Primate's communiqué of February and Windsor report during the meeting: "We heard from our Primate, from some dioceses, from national committees (EcoJustice, Faith Worship and Ministry, and Partners in Mission), and from the House of Bishops. We also listened to our Lutheran and ECUSA partners, Essentials, Integrity, and the Primate's Theological Commission."

The Primate's Theological Commission released the report - 'St. Michael Report' and delivered it to the CoGS. The report concludes that the blessing of same-sex unions are a matter of doctrine and the final decision on the stand of the Anglican Church of Canada will be made by General Synod in 2007.


[Source: Anglican Journal - Marites N. Sison]