by Randall Fairey
Thanks to the generosity of Canadian Anglicans, CoGS did meet in May, although a number of members were absent. It was unsettling to recognize that it is just over 12 months until General Synod meets in Halifax with so many important issues before the Church. Additionally, the Anglican Consultative Council met at the same time and developments from Jamaica continue to influence our Province as well. Because of their importance, I want to focus on the recent CoGS discussions about sexuality. By the time this column is published we will have had our Diocesan Synod and it will be interesting to compare the outcomes of the debates.
The Church and Sexuality
Foremost on the most recent CoGS agenda were documents intended to shape the General Synod 2010 debate on two issues; the blessing of same-sex unions, and possible amendment of Canon XXI on Marriage. Two documents were introduced; the Galilee Report from the Primate's Theological Commission (PTC), and the Rothesay Report from Faith, Worship, and Ministry (FWM). Delegates to CoGS had a chance to digest these reports although the references in the Galilee Report require further searching on the national website.
In summary, the Galilee Report states that the Commission was unable to reach a consensus as to "whether the blessing of same sex unions is a faithful, Spirit-led development of doctrine." It recommends pursuit of the references for a deeper examination and is asking Canadian Anglicans in whatever fashion (parish study groups, diocese, individuals, and so forth) to offer responses to the PTC by December 1, 2009.
The Rothesay Report, to be available on the web, is a new Study Paper from FWM that excited CoGS members in its content. It provides a thoughtful series of discussions that at least for me is very convincing that there is a solid theological rationale for including same-sex couples in the church's definition of marriage. This paper should certainly be widely discussed and read by all delegates to General Synod.
I am disappointed, however, that despite these documents the Council remains unable to signal the direction that resolutions will take for General Synod. On May 10, the Council issued, "A Word to the Church on Questions of Human Sexuality." In this, CoGS announced that it had reached a consensus that it is not the time to amend the Marriage Canon to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples. I stress that this was called a "consensus" and was not a vote. I regret that the consensus decision-making model neither encourages opposition nor does it measure its degree.
Furthermore in light of the Galilee Report, CoGS expressed that considerable work still needs to be done on any distinction between a blessing and a nuptial blessing, distinctions between marriage, the blessing of a civil marriage, and the blessing of a union, and finally, the theological significance of blessing the civil marriage of a same sex couple.
Additionally, CoGS has instructed that FWM should include "a broader spectrum of thought" on the question of the marriage of same-sex couples, as it was judged that the Rothesay Report seemed too supportive of one side of the question and needed to give a more balanced view. It should be recalled, however, that FWM only had been asked to provide a theological rationale to allow same-sex marriages, and not the opposite.
If you are confused, or simply tired of this, please join with me. I personally believe that CoGS should consider the drafting of a Marriage Canon revision understanding that if such a resolution does not come to General Synod 2010, under the Constitution of the ACC an amendment to the Marriage Canon could not take effect until 2016 at the earliest. Society has passed us by on this one with the legalization of same-sex civil unions; perhaps the Church will catch up — there is still time to write to FWM!
