Some members of the Anglican Church of Canada were left in tears Sunday, after a motion to bless same-sex unions lost by only two votes.
The motion was supported by the majority of clergy and laity at the group’s national meeting, but two bishops who opposed the idea were the deciding factor. The motion was defeated by 21-19.
The decision shocked many same-sex supporters who thought the motion would pass since earlier in the day Anglicans voted same-sex blessings were not in conflict with the church’s doctrine.
Chris Ambidge, national spokesman for an Anglican group that supports same-sex unions, said the national meeting sent mixed messages to Anglicans across Canada and was confusing to everyone who voted.
“What is wrong with having rights of blessing when you’ve already said it’s OK?” he said. “I just don’t understand that.”
Primate-elect Frederick Hiltz said the vote’s outcome showed that several bishops still want to wait and study the issue further. He said there will be an ongoing conversation about same-sex unions and that it will likely come up again at the next national meeting.
Hiltz said the few parishes who were previously granted the right to bless same-sex unions in the church’s New Westminster diocese will continue to do so.
“The reality is we have a very divided Synod over this issue and that’s respective of a very divided church,” he said. “There’s no doubt that many people are disappointed as a result of the vote.”
The split threatens to divide Anglicans on either side, even forcing them to leave or switch churches.
Cheryl Chang, a spokesperson for Anglican Essentials, a group which opposes blessing same-sex unions, called Sunday’s vote a “divisive tragedy” for the entire church.
Although opponents of same-sex unions ultimately won, Chang said doctrine devotees believe blessing same-sex unions contradicts the church’s core doctrine. She said people who love scripture might look to the Catholic Church or other organized religions instead.
“People on both sides were in tears,” Chang said.
“It’s going to be very difficult in the coming years —parishioners on both sides are going to start to leave the church tomorrow.”
Bishop Peter Coffin voted to support same-sex unions, and said he’s going to have a hard time breaking the news to his congregation. Coffin said he’s appalled the church is talking about gay and lesbian members without discussing the issue with them directly.
“I’m just dreaming up what I’m going to say (to my congregation),” he said. “It’s going to be hurtful.”
Ambidge said the ruling that same-sex blessings aren’t in conflict with the church’s core doctrine was a bit of good news that proves the church will eventually change its mind on the issue.
“The head of the baby is out, so the rest is coming,” Ambidge said.
The news come only a day after the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada rejected the possibility blessing same-sex unions at its national meeting, also being held in Winnipeg.
The motion was defeated by a 200-181 secret ballot vote.
jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca
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