Sermon July 17 on Vote to Change Marriage Canon

Article: Click for PDF →

The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

July 17, 2016
by The Reverend Maureen Hair, Preacher St. Paul, Washago & St. Luke, Price’s Corners (and text circulated to the other churches in the cluster: Good Samaritan, Port Stanton, St. John, Matchedash and St. George, Fairvalley)

RCL Readings: Proper 16: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42 (opening prayer)

Last week our national church met in Richmond Hill for General Synod that is held every 3 years. I’m sure most of us are aware of the motion regarding changing the Marriage Canon to allow for marriage of same sex couples. The public interest in the topic and the unfortunate difficulty with counting the votes when there was an extremely narrow margin, thus first not passing and then passing the motion, created frenzied coverage in the secular media.

So, this morning I’m going to share with you the pastoral letter of Toronto’s diocesan bishop, Colin, sent to the diocese on Wednesday, and then a brief reflection of my own.

I will be posting the Primate ++Fred’s letter on the bulletin board and it can also be found on the anglican.ca website.

(Read ++Colin’s letter)

For my own part, this week was a roller coaster ride of emotions. As do many of us, I have gay people in my own personal circle, both married, partnered and single. This includes family members and friends as well as neighbours. To me these people, including their sexual orientation, are just as much children of God as I am or anyone else is, and therefore, as a matter of justice, ought to have full rights and privileges.

Over the years I’ve become persuaded that the gospel values taught by Jesus to love one another, and to include rather than exclude, take precedence over most other passages including admonitions in Hebrew scripture or Paul’s letters that refer negatively to same sex activity. My reason for this is that the admonitions in scripture were written long before the nature of innate sexual attraction was understood – something that we’re born with and therefore God-given, rather than a sinful behaviour or lifestyle choice that must be resisted or punished.

And besides, we’ve already decided as a church that some prohibitions from biblical times are not applicable today. We don’t insist on circumcision. We eat pork and shellfish. We don’t require the separation of meat and dairy in food preparation or serving. We don’t have rules against tattoos. We do have rules against adultery but the penalty is not death. We don’t allow slavery or polygamy or substitutional wives for procreation as in Sarah’s servant Hagar who was given to Abraham. All these practices and prohibitions were evident in ancient Israel and are told about in Hebrew scriptures, with no interdict against them. They’re no longer culturally relevant or even thinkable in our modern context and church. So, not every prohibition mentioned in the Bible is still observed as such today. Many are irrelevant to us and we read them as historical and cultural anomalies, not binding commandments or rules for us to follow.

Most of us can recall when we used to try to correct left handedness in children because we thought it was wrong. Then we learned that dominant handedness was innate and we stopped harming children by forcing them into using their right hand. Same for being gay or transgendered now – innate and to be respected.

And besides, the number of references that Jesus made in the gospels about homosexuality is zero. That’s enough for me. 

On Monday evening as I watched the live stream from the floor of synod on my iPad, after 60 people spoke, sometimes with eloquence, sometimes with very hurtful words, the fraction of a percentage in the house of clergy that the motion failed by was high drama to be sure. It was one clergy vote shy of passing. It was a painful moment for both sides, I think. Those voting against would have been saddened by how many people, a wide composite 74% majority, voted for the motion. Those voting for, heartbroken at losing by just one vote.

A Facebook site that was started about a two weeks ago is called EquallyAnglican and it is a place for Anglican LGBTQ people to post their picture, speak of their sexual orientation, and say something about their lives including where they minister/worship. These are from all across Canada. About 48 profiles have been shared in just this short time, many of them clergy and lay leaders in this diocese, one is a candidate in the upcoming Toronto episcopal election. The experience of reading these profiles has solidified my own identity as an ally of LGBTQ people living, working and worshipping among us. As one bishop wrote this week, “It is time. It is past time.”

As ++Colin said, there are differences of conviction on this matter in virtually every congregation. Therefore, we will need to be sensitive and loving towards each other in this congregation and cluster as we navigate this new territory together.

The Archbishops’ letters will be posted on the bulletin board. I am also sending a cluster-wide email including them, as well as posting on the cluster Facebook page later today. It will be on the website on Monday or Tuesday.

And to reflect briefly through the prism of today’s gospel passage, in a few words Luke draws the picture of these two sisters. Martha receives Jesus into the house, showing that she’s hospitable and constantly busy. Then, in a single memorable image, Mary is presented to us. She sits listening, passive in contrast to Martha’s incessant activity.

Last week we heard the story of the Good Samaritan, Jesus told the disciples to emulate the Good Samaritan. He said: go and do likewise. “Do this and you shall live.” It all boiled down to one little word: “this.” “Do this.” Do this one thing: love the Lord your God completely, and your neighbour as yourself. This story says go and do.

This week we meet Martha, a woman who is doing up a storm. But this time, doing doesn’t seem to be the key according to Jesus. “Sit and listen” as Mary does, seems to be the right answer. Jesus says there is need of only one thing. But some days it is hard to figure out what that one thing is.

Go and do, sit and listen, in all these ways of being with and for the Lord, it is about loving God and our neighbour. I believe that this means all of our neighbours; it includes our LGBTQ friends and loved ones. All are welcome, and all are to be offered the ministrations of the church. That was already passed as a motion of the national church in 2004 and in our diocese later that year, when we affirmed “the sanctity and integrity of monogamous, adult, committed same sex relationships.” Our church already acknowledges this and has for 12 years, even though I know some members don’t agree with it. Now I believe we have come to a time of including in this affirmation the provision of the sacrament of marriage for all who are legally qualified. I think Jesus meant this in his command to his followers to “do this (love your neighbour as yourself), and you will live.”

My prayer is for all of us to continue in our walk with Jesus in the way that our informed consciences guide us. I close with ++Colin’s reminder, “We need to be tender with one another, recognizing in each other the image of God redeemed by our Saviour Jesus Christ, a beloved child, the desire of God’s heart and will. And we need to remember that what unites us is far more central than what divides us: our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our service together in his mission in the world.”

And for that teaching today we say, thanks be to God. Amen. 

Primate on General Synod Motion on Marriage Canon Motion

Article: Click for PDF →

By Fred Hiltz, Archbishop and Primate on on July 14, 2016

In light of decisions made at General Synod 2016 concerning the solemnizing of same-sex marriage, I pray our Church can and will take to heart Paul’s plea with the Christians living in Ephesus, “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. (Ephesians 4:1-3)

Going into General Synod, the delegates knew there would be pastoral implications whether the Resolution to amend the Marriage Canon passed or not. In order to pass it would, according to the Declaration of Principles (General Synod Handbook), require a two-thirds majority in each of the three orders voting: bishops, clergy, and laity.

On Monday, July 11 the result of the vote was that in the orders of bishops and laity there was the required two-thirds majority but not in the order of clergy. The vote was very close. The pastoral implication was that LGBTQ2S persons and those who have accompanied them were disappointed and saddened. Many wept. The Synod sat in silence.

Because the vote was so very close, on Tuesday morning there was a request that the record of this vote be made public and Synod concurred. Analysis of the actual vote revealed that one clergy member’s vote was not properly recorded. The Chancellor then advised the Synod that according to the numbers we in fact did have a two-thirds majority vote in the order of clergy, and I announced the resolution had therefore passed in all three orders. The pastoral implication was that a number of members of Synod were disappointed and saddened. Many wept. The Synod sat in silence.

We have been deeply divided over the solemnizing of same-sex marriage for a very long time. That has not changed. In the midst of this division, I need to take to heart Paul’s counsel and I encourage our whole Church to do the

same. “Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called,” writes St. Paul. He reminds us of our fellowship in Christ Jesus, through our baptism, and in the eucharist. He reminds us that we are “the Body of Christ, members one of another”, and that we in fact need each other, and need to find ways to make room for one another.

In keeping with the theme of Synod, “You are my witnesses” the question with which we must now wrestle is this, “For what kind of pastoral and prophetic witness can and will we be known?”

I pray that witness not be marred by fraction and breaking of communion with one another, but rather that “forbearing of one another in love” that “eagerness to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”. More than ever we must make efforts not to turn away from one another but rather to one another, not to ignore but to recognize one another, not to walk apart but together. We need as a Church to work hard at maintaining our communion in Christ, for in his reconciling love is our hope and our life.

The Synod passed on first reading an amendment to the Marriage Canon to allow for same-sex marriage in our Church. Because it is a Canon about doctrine, consideration of the matter is required in “two successive sessions of the General Synod”. So the matter will be before the General Synod in 2019. In the meantime, it is referred “for consideration to diocesan and provincial Synods”.

I call the Church to seize this opportunity. I commend the General Synod’s reaffirmation by resolution of the 2004 General Synod Statement on the integrity and sanctity of same-sex relationships, and its call for a much wider and deeper engagement with the report, “This Holy Estate”. I will ask the Council of General Synod (CoGS) to give immediate attention to the matter of translation, at least of the executive summary of the report and frequently asked questions. I will ask CoGS to consider what other resources might be helpful. I will be asking the House of Bishops at their fall meeting to consider how we encourage “further consideration” of the matter, and to show strong leadership in their dioceses in hosting events, dialogues, and studies.

In all these conversations I want to encourage much more engagement with people who identify as LGBTQ2S. We have spent a lot of time talking about them. I believe we need to take much more time to talk with them and to

learn of their lived experience of covenanted love in relationships that are monogamous and life-long. I know that will require of all of us a good deal of courage and grace.

Finally, I ask that without ceasing, we pray for one another, mindful always of the counsel of Paul.

“I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4: 1-3) 

Archbishop Colin Pastoral Letter Reg. Changing Marriage Canon

Article: Click for PDF →

July 15, 2016
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

You will have heard the difficult and confusing results from General Synod around the amendment to the Canon on Marriage. What happened and where do we go from here?

According to our rules of order, this motion required a 2/3 majority affirmative vote in each of the three orders, laity, clergy and bishops. After a lengthy presentation of the Commission's Report on Friday evening, we had three periods of discussion in small table groups of about 8 and in larger circles of about 20-25 on Saturday and Monday morning. We moved into a legislative debate on the motion presented with two amendments on Monday afternoon that extended long into the evening. About60 people spoke in the debate. A few on both sides spoke disparagingly of the other side. The vast majority were generous and thoughtful. A number were truly eloquent.

When the vote was taken, a recorded vote as requested under the rules of order, it appeared that the motion had passed but it quickly became apparent that it had achieved more than 2/3 votes among the bishops and laity but failed by one vote among the clergy, 66.23%, just shy of the 66.66% required. A great silence filled the room. There were many tears, there was no elation. People were deeply concerned for each other. A few members left the floor of Synod in their pain.

After prayer and some procedural motions, we adjourned to the next morning.

On Tuesday, members of Synod were asked to consider what the next steps should be spiritually, symbolically and structurally. Two important decisions were made. A motion was debated and approved by a large margin to reaffirm the 2004 declaration of General Synod (subsequently passed in the same form in the Diocese of Toronto special synod of November 2004) "affirming the sanctity and integrity of monogamous, adult, committed same sex relationships." A motion to release the electronic record of the vote immediately was passed.

Just before General Synod concluded that afternoon, we were informed that the released electronic record contained an error - the General Secretary, a cleric, was noted as casting an affirmative vote the previous evening but mistakenly not counted in the results. With that vote properly counted, the motion to amend the marriage canon had reached the 2/3 level of approval in all three orders and was therefore carried. A great silence filled the room. There were many tears, there was no elation. People were deeply concerned for each other. A few members left the floor of Synod in their pain.

In fact, over the period of 18 hours, all sides of the contentious issue had their hopes achieved and dashed, their hearts broken and their emotions bruised.

The next months will require considerable prayer and restraint. The bruising, confusion and pain of General Synod are echoed in our Church and certainly in our diocese. We need to provide the greatest pastoral generosity to each other who will be in very different places, and have been formed in very diverse contexts, theologically, spiritually, scripturally, experientially.

We need to be tender with one another, recognizing in each other the image of God redeemed by our Saviour Jesus Christ, a beloved child, the desire of God's heart and will.

And we need to remember that what unites us is far more central than what divides us: our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and our service together in his mission in the world.

Nine years ago, by a very large majority, this General Synod affirmed that same sex unions were not a matter of core doctrine, that there was a legitimate range of theological commitments about marriage and about homosexuality and pastoral practices that attend that. Our official position is that this matter is important but it is not at the level of core belief about which we require unity.

For me that means that we need to welcome and hold place for those who are convinced that the church must proceed with same sex marriage and for those whose convictions forbid them from doing so. Both have a place in the Diocese of Toronto.

The canon change contains two provisions that I think are vitally important to remember. The first is the provision which continues to exist in the canon and has always been present: no minister is under any compulsion to preside at any marriage. That provision continues to be used by clergy who, by conviction, will not marry divorced couples, but even more frequently by clergy who, for pastoral convictions, decline to marry couples for any number of concerns.

The second provision is contained in an amendment that I successfully proposed to the motion presented on Monday: "no minister shall solemnize any marriage between same sex couples without the diocesan bishop's permission". It changed the original proposal that would have made same sex marriage the required norm from which a diocese or bishop would have to "opt out", to a permissible rite to which one would have to "opt in." It requires a pastoral conversation between the cleric and the bishop, not only about the intentions of the couple, but as importantly about the convictions of the cleric, and the context of the parish and community.

This is part of what I said in the debate:

"I stand here to witness that God blesses our church now with the prayerful presence and sacrificial service of LGBTQ parishioners and clergy, all of whom are members of families, some of whom are civilly married, many of whom want their marriages to be solemnized with the rites of the church they are part of. I speak to support the change to the marriage canon as an outcome of a long and prayerful discernment of how God is calling our church to engage in Christ's mission to our world today. I believe it is the right thing to do. I believe that the time to do it is now.

"But first I urge you to support this amendment [to provide an opt in provision] because it will provide simple and pastorally appropriate accommodation for those who cannot in conscience or conviction go there yet, or perhaps ever.

"I, as much as anyone in this room, and more than most, have worked hard to keep our Communion, our national church and the people in my diocese together and in dialogue. This demands honesty both about where we agree and where we disagree, both at the level of ideas, at the level of assumptions and at the level of practice. It involves a tough willingness to continue to learn from each other and to try to understand one another. And it means that we cannot try to dictate or control one another.

"The freedom of conscience in the Anglican experience is not only in superficial matters but even as we approach critical doctrinal issues - how we have understood baptism, the Eucharist, the scriptures, the outward and the inward expression of our faith. We have a broad and messy tent. Personally I'd like to clean it up, but I have lived long enough and I have been ordained long enough to know that such a house cleaning is more about me making the church to be what I would be comfortable with. It usually has little to do with how God wants it to be. The Anglican Church is an uncomfortable place for those who cannot deal with ambiguity.

"This amendment provides for some ambiguity, not everyone will be satisfied, various places will do things different ways but I believe it respects the diversity which is inherently part of the Anglican tradition and respects the integrity and dignity of dioceses to make the choices that they feel persuaded to make for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

Synod has just happened. The motion will now be referred to each diocese and province for consideration (not approval) and return for final reading in General Synod 2019. In the meantime, I believe a pastoral response is needed - one that takes into account the differing convictions and contexts of our clergy and people.

Over the next weeks and months I will consult and work on a pastoral protocol regarding same sex marriages that, at this time I think, might mirror the approach we have taken with the blessing of same sex unions.

The 21 bishops, clergy and laity of the Diocese of Toronto represented you well. The over 60 volunteers and staff who provided the local arrangements and hospitality welcoming Synod to Toronto were outstanding and made us proud. Believe it or not, there were other important matters that were considered in Synod, but I will speak to you about those later.

Yours faithfully,

+Colin
The Most Rev'd Colin R. Johnson,
Archbishop of Toronto