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Canadian Anglicans defer on gay marriages, but say gay sex is sacred
The most-reported news coming out of the General Synod of Canada's Anglican Church is that a vote on gay marriages was postponed until 2007, asking a theological commission to review the matter and report back in two years.

But yesterday's news out of the synod means that the theological commission is absolutely pointless. By a show of hands, the church voted to "affirm the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships."

An e-mailed statement on the blog of Kendall Harmon, Canon Theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, notes two problems:

First, the amendment does not define what a "committed" adult same-sex relationship is, nor does it define the number of partners involved; second, it declares these relationships not only to have integrity but also to possess sanctity; that is, to have the same character (holiness) as Christian marriage. This is a theological declaration that would seem to pre-empt any theological consultation on the nature of same-sex blessings.

Adds Harmon, "Yes, quite so. Where is the logic in not blessing these relationships if they are deemed to have 'sanctity'?"

Nine bishops in Canada's Anglican Church agree, saying yesterday's vote "appears to have pre-empted" the theological commission's work. They also complained that the vote directly countermands requests from the worldwide leaders of the Anglican Communion not to take action on homosexual relationships until a global commission—founded in the wake of the American gay bishop's appointment—issues its report later this year.

Expect many of those global Anglican leaders to be upset with this turn of events in Canada. Weblog is unable to monitor all of the news and commentary on this point, especially since there are so many blogs and publications dispensing information and analysis. If you're interested, be sure to check out Classical Anglican Net News, an orthodox blog based in Canada.

A great line from CANN, in response from a gay Anglican activist's remark that the affirmation vote means "that toothpaste won't be able to go back in the tube" when it comes to the church's stance on same-sex relationships.

"Well," says CANN, "spilled toothpaste gets washed down the sink, and a new tube gets bought. New wine in old wine-skins, eh?"

More on Canada's Anglican Church meeting:

• Canadian church affirms same-sex unions | The Anglican Church of Canada affirmed the "integrity and sanctity" of same-sex relationships Thursday, a move that stops short of authorizing blessing ceremonies for gay couples but still may provoke rancor in the global Anglican Communion (Associated Press)
• Anglicans clash again over same-sex couples | Last-minute manoeuvring during a divisive debate within the Anglican Church of Canada on how to treat same-sex couples has left the church at odds with itself (The Globe and Mail, Toronto)
• Anglican Church of Canada affirms committed adult same-sex relationships (Canadian Press)
• Anglican vote 'affirms' gay relationships | After hearing the pleas of homosexual Christians, the Anglican Church of Canada's governing body yesterday passed a controversial motion "affirming the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships" (The Montreal Gazette)
• Canadian Anglicans back 'sanctity' of gay relationships (PA, U.K.)
• Canadian Anglicans put off gay blessings | Synod avoids internal split and worldwide evangelical revulsion (The Guardian, London)

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May (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48