CANADA: TWO DIOCÉSES REJECT SYNOD’S CALL FOR BLESSING SAME-SEX UNIONS

April 17, 2004

A coalition of clergy from the Dioceses of Athabasca and Edmonton has issued a formal statement opposing the Anglican Church of Canada’s proposed Framework for the Blessing of Same-Sex Unions, citing five theological and pastoral grounds:

Christian Love

True love calls us to holy living. To advise otherwise—even in the name of inclusion—offends both the love of God and neighbor.

Christian Repentance

The Church has failed to offer adequate pastoral care and support to those seeking to leave homosexual practice. We have silenced the Gospel of healing and transformation.

Communion & Fellowship

The Framework admits we “differ on our reception of the apostles’ teaching”—yet hopes to maintain unimpaired fellowship. But unity not grounded in agreement on the truth of Scripture is illusory.

Honesty

“Blessing of committed same-sex relationships” is a euphemism. Many such couples are civilly married. To pretend otherwise is dishonest. The real issue is same-sex marriage—and it must be named.

Christ’s High Priestly Prayer

Jesus prayed not only for unity, but for truth and holiness (John 17). To prioritize unity over truth is idolatry. As the Book of Common Prayer implores:

“Grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.”

Where truth is abandoned, unity is a façade.

Faithfulness in Discipleship

New believers ask us: What does it mean to follow Christ? To compromise biblical sexual ethics “for the sake of inclusivity” betrays their trust and endangers their souls.

Signed by 31 clergy from Edmonton and Athabasca, including the Very Rev. Greg Kerr-Wilson, the Rev. Canon Fraser Lawton, and others listed in full in the original.