Forgive me if I have a rather negative point of view but I think it needs to be expressed.
I believe that the damage done by the Same Sex Blessing Issue is not repairable. I don’t believe that there will be an Anglican Church in Canada by 2019.
Personally, I don’t mind what people do behind closed doors as long as I am not required to watch or bless it. I do not hang onto every single word of the Bible literally. But I do not believe that homosexuality is healthy or God’s will. However, I realize that there are many many very lonely people in this continent who find companionship and love living with someone of the same sex. If they wish to have that relationship blessed they could have gone to the United Church for that purpose. Perhaps I am wrong and if God finally speaks to me in some way on this divisive topic perhaps I will change my mind. I also abhor the fact that in the past, so many homosexuals have been ostracised, ridiculed, tortured and even murdered.
As I see the situation the whole issue has been a political move to have churches recognise and sanctify these relationships and there-by force governments into giving benefits to partners as if they were spouses. The church has been manipulated but is blind to the fact. It seems as if clergy and laity have been exposed to so much propaganda on the issue that they have finally decided that yes, this is indeed God’s will.
Even if it is indeed God’s will to bless and ultimately marry same sex couples, the Anglican Church and Leaders should not have let this become a political football. This issue has indeed caused the death knell to our church. The divisions which have then arisen over church ownership are the real problem. Outsiders see this as a wicked waste of time and energy. We are seen as hopelessly lost and mired in the mud of disagreement.
So what can we do?
Mend the splits caused by this, allow churches to differ on the issue and allow the “conservative” churches to continue to worship in their buildings and to respect the fact that just possibly they are right in their beliefs. Leaders and bishops should practice some humility and find some common ground with those whose opinions differ, i.e. the break away churches etc. They should respect some of these great pastors even if they can’t agree.
Anglicans have always differed over certain theological matters and then they have agreed to disagree. Eventually, those differences of the past no longer seem to be such huge issues.
I pray to God that bishops will get to the table, respect the opinions of those who do not agree with them, allow the so called “break away” churches to use their buildings and get on with being Christians and work to relieve the suffering and injustices in the world.
As a matter of interest, in our diocese, there are now churches lying empty and abandoned because of the “dog in a manger” attitude of the Anglican Church.
Yours in Christ,
Jane F., Ladysmith, Diocese of B.C.
Sadly,you are probably correct, there is not much hope of ever regaining the members who have left or attracting new ones, who would enter an arena of conflict and turmoil to find Jesus who is the Prince of Peace? We appear as loose canons in the ecumenical world, the only press we get is legal dirty laundry. The orthodox churches exhibit a siege mentality and the Anglican Journal has become a state of war update. Pray that God will deliver us and restore us to our mission and faithfulness.