The Motion to Give Diocesan Option
Lay in Favour: 78
Lay Opposed: 59
Clergy in Favour: 63
Clergy Opposed: 53
Bishops in Favour: 19
Bishops Opposed: 21
The motion passed in both houses of Laity and Clergy and failed in the house of Bishops.
So I have been wrong in my predictions; I wrongly assumed that if the motion effecting core doctrine passed, so would the above. In some way I guess I was correct, the house of clergy and lay passed it. It only failed by two bishops.
This is a difficult time for the so called "liberal" side of the church. They came very close and it has not passed, yet the General Synod has said that the blessings of same sex unions is "not in conflict with core doctrine". It's kind of a mixed message isn't it. It is going to be a weird 3 years. The Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates will say that we have done the right thing, yet it seems obvious that they will not be impressed by A186 (core doctrine).
So we are basically status quo: again, don't panic! But I do ask you to pray... I know I have been asking this much... but I wish you to pray for all hurt by this result. There are no winners nor losers, we just are, continuing to be led by the Spirit. The Word prevails and it informs us to listen. SO in your PRAYERS, LISTEN! Listen to Scripture, listen to theologians, listen to the people of God, listen to those who do not agree with you and most of all listen in order to forgive as Christ has forgiven you. Christ will speak to us, he is Emmanuel, God with Us... don't worry. He prayed, He listened, He forgave, so do likewise.
In Christ,
Douglas+
3 Comments:
A sad day for Canadian Angicanism. If our Christian Communities are not veritable welcoming and affirming spaces for all God's children, then how can we expect as much from civil society. As you say, the next three years will undoubtedly be an uncertain time.
Right now it is a time for reconciliation...for bridge-building.
Pax et bonum!
Douglas I am finding this a little confusing. So did the motion ultimately pass or did it fail because of the bishops? If this division is as strong as you say I find it very sad as I am a very proud Anglican and I hate to see our church as a whole being split over one very conterversial ideal of someone. I will be watching this as will many of us.
Jennifer Trevors
The Motion Failed.
It is indeed a time for reconciliation and bridge building. I pray we are all open to that call.
I have always believed we could bear this, no matter what, but realistically the strain for some is too great and so leaving could have been very plausible. It's going to take a year to digest. Next year the bishops gather at Lambeth and I think much will come from that. At present there is no change and for some thats good news, for others, possible many, that's bad. Cause I think the majority wanted to put this issue to rest. In our haste though we might leave our theology and doctrinal understandings behind. It is important to reconcile everything we do and say in the church with understanding from Scripture, Tradition and Reason (I would hope in that order ;-)
You are right Jennifer, we will watch, and all of us would hate to split. As I've been saying all along all we can do is pray... and pray... and pray. I am certain of one thing: He Listens and answers.
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