No going back

Bishop Michael Ingham of New Westminister and Bishop John Chapman of Montreal. acns/sweeny

The Canadian Anglican Journal has collected episcopal views on the proposed moratorium on same-sex blessings from around the country.

In summary: it is impossible to go back.

There is some discussion of the confusion caused by the suggestion that the moratoria should be 'retrospective' - that is, in those places where permission for same-sex blessing had been given that permission should now be withdrawn. It won't happen.

In places where same-sex blessings are allowed by the state they will be conducted by some clergy who share the liberal attitudes of the population. In Canada, US, UK and elsewhere the church will, willingly or by default, go with the majority.

Inevitably this will continue to tear the church apart. Elsewhere in the Journal there is an account of 11 clergy in Vancouver who have transferred to the jurisdiction of the Southern Cone but propose to continue their parochial ministry.

Conservatives and liberal congregations in Niagra must continue to have "joint possession and administration of the three church properties.”

In addition, she [Judge Jane Milanetti of the Ontario Superior Court] said, any dispute will be referred to an arbitrator; the diocese will have access to each church on Sundays between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and on other feast days; it will also have access for weddings and funerals. The two parties will apportion expenses “based on the use of each parish property by each party,”

At least as a temporary measure until a final decision. She also said:

“it is my preliminary view that a group who chooses to leave the association
they voluntarily joined and then take the property with them (without even the
possibility of sharing the property) is unreasonable.”

And the property belonged to the Diocese.

Overall, and to no-one's surprise, this means that the Lambeth Conference has made no difference.