Anglican Rift

Anglican church Vancouver

Anglicans in Canada -- at least some of them -- are angry and leaving their denomination. A number of congregations across the country have voted to leave the Canadian communion of Anglicans and align themselves with what is known as the Southern Cone. Why? Homosexual marriages. The Anglicans have come to the same conclusion as the United Church did a few years ago. Gay and lesbian couples may be married in Anglican churches, a ceremony which is legal in Canada but not practiced in the majority of denominations. I say may because I'm assuming that the same will be true for Anglicans as it is for United Church congregations. No UCC congregation is required to perform same-sex marriages and even if they chose to do so, no United Church minister is expected to act against his or her conscience.

Just the same, the prospect of these marriages is deeply offensive to many Christians and they feel that they are contrary to scripture and the historic faith. Of course it is true that nothing in scripture directly supports gay marriage. It's interesting though that nothing in the New Testament supports the ordination of women, but both the United Church and the Anglicans have come to new understanding about the roles of women. The Southern Cone not only opposes same-gender marriage, it does not ordain women. Some of the departing clergy are women. Hmm.

For me living a historic faith is the faith which listens to the Christ of the gospels. At times it has led me to different understandings from those of my forebearers, not because I want to flaunt or disregard scripture but because I am trying to understand what the love of Christ means for me now.

Well, these departing congregations will now duke it out in the courts for their property, as happened in the United Church. I don't remember reading of one church building in the New Testament, but our bricks and mortar are important to us. Oh well. For all our differences, Christ loves us still.