Divisive vote on same-sex marriage falls by the wayside
The gathering of bishops representing the 85 million worldwide members of Anglican churches has backed away from a planned vote on whether to condemn same-sex marriages. Instead, the bishops have been presented with a statement that describes the fact that Anglican churches hold widely different positions on the issue.
Bishops supporting same-sex marriage, including those from the Episcopal Church in the United States, were upset when they learned shortly before the start of the Lambeth Conference on July 26 that a vote was scheduled on whether to affirm a resolution passed by the 1998 conference that “upholds marriage as between a man and a woman” and rejected homosexuality as “incompatible with Scripture”.
After months during which the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, had described the upcoming conference as a time for reconciliation and relationship-building, disappointed progressive church leaders called the plan to vote on same-sex marriage “deeply troubling and painful”; a “bait-and-switch” tactic; and ““a deliberate poison pill”.
Their protests did not go unheard.
Yesterday, the organizers of the Lambeth Conference announced that, after all, bishops would not be asked to vote on same-sex marriage; instead, they would be presented with a broad description of the where various Anglican churches stand on the issue:
“It is the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole that ‘all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation are full members of the Body of Christ’ and to be welcomed, cared for, and treated with respect (I.10, 1998). Many Provinces continue to affirm that same gender marriage is not permissible. Lambeth Resolution I.10 (1998) states that the ‘legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions’ cannot be advised. Other Provinces have blessed and welcomed same sex union/marriage after careful theological reflection and a process of reception. As Bishops we remain committed to listening and walking together to the maximum possible degree, despite our deep disagreement on these issues.”
Hard-line bishops from Anglican churches such has those in Nigeria and Uganda that reject same-sex marriage and exclude homosexuals from their congregations will not be satisfied. Many of them are already boycotting the Lambeth Conference because LGBT bishops received invitations.
But bishops from inclusive branches of the Anglican Communion were pleased.
Episcopal Bishop Bonnie Perry of Michigan, who is married to a woman, wrote:
“I find this [revised proposed] statement to be descriptive and not prescriptive and an accurate representation of the varied positions on same sex marriage and blessings in the Anglican Communion.’ This, my friends, is what Communion Across Difference is all about. Acknowledging our differences. Being honest about who we are and what we believe. And committing to walk together — to the maximum possible degree — anyway.”
