Fred Hiltz has suggested that even if the vote to change the Marriage Canon fails to pass at General Synod, some priests will ignore the fact and go ahead with same-sex marriages anyway. Although Hiltz frames it as “civil disobedience”, I am left with the impression from the article below that, by mentioning it at all, he is dropping a broad hint to liberal dioceses as to how they should proceed.
The same strategy was adopted by the national church in 2010 when at the General Synod, while approval was not given for dioceses to start blessing same-sex unions, it was understood that many dioceses would still do so. And they did. An easy solution for Hiltz, since he was absolved of responsibility and liberal dioceses got what they wanted.
In 2010 we had the local option for same-sex blessings, along with the assurance that there would be no same-sex marriages.
In 2016 we will have the local option for same-sex marriages along with the assurance that no priests will be compelled to perform them.
In 2022 we will have…. well, you get the drift.
Some bishops have expressed concern about the possibility that some priests may go ahead and marry gay couples in the event that a resolution changing the marriage canon to allow same-gender marriages is rejected at General Synod this summer, said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada.
“If it’s not approved, then, as we sometimes, say…there could be some ‘civil disobedience’ on the part of clergy and parishes, and the bishops are going to have to handle that, because all of us that are ordained make a solemn promise to conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship of the Anglican Church of Canada,” Hiltz told the Anglican Journal April 12. Hiltz made the comments during an interview on the House of Bishops meeting last week, April 4–8.
Asked to clarify if by “civil disobedience” he meant same-gender marriages in defiance of a “no” vote, Hiltz replied, “That’s a possibility. Bishops are aware of that. We’re mindful of our need to reach out to those who are going to be hurt or offended by a decision of General Synod.”
Actually, David, I’m more optimistic than you seem to be. I think that Hiltz is preparing people’s minds for our church’s drawing back from the brink officially, if only to remain in good standing in the ACC.
You might well be right but this does not mean there has been any change in the mind of Fred Hiltz. His actions clearly show he will follow the god – notice the small “g” – of political correctness rather than make a firm stand for the Gospel.
The Biblical template for “the local option”/”civil disobedience” led to a spiritual and material declension that lasted 305 years, in turn leading directly to a state of prevailing apostasy set out in + I Samuel 3:1b “And The WORD of The LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision”,
solely because:
” every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” + Judges (21:25b)
People disobeyed God in the Bible time. People continue to disobey God in today and future’s church until the Second Coming.