The Anglican Church of Canada is a full communion partner with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada. They both believe much the same things, none of which have anything to do with Christianity. They even conceal their disinterest in the orthodox faith with the same befuddling fudge. As the saying goes, “those who smudge together fudge together”.

Both denominations are equally obsessed with all things 2SLGBTQIA+, so much so that a member of the ELCIC clergy is in “a self-defined polyamorous relationship.” In September 2021 she (yes, “she”) was suspended from the roster of ordained ministers of the ELCIC:

“for her willful noncompliance with the standards and practices and the constitution, administrative bylaws and enactments of the ELCIC described in para. 3 of the Manual Re: Discipline of Rostered Ministers, until such time as the ELCIC recognizes and affirms polyamorous relationships for rostered ministers.”

Notice the part in (my) bold.

The clergywoman appealed the suspension, and the appeal was successful because (again, my bold):

Neither the SSHS (Social Statement on Human Sexuality) nor a prohibition against polyamory is found in these provisions, as required by para. 3. For this reason the majority finds it unnecessary to determine whether the SSHS should be interpreted as prohibiting polyamory.

In other words, since the ELCIC does not explicitly forbid polyamory by name, it must be fine. The same argument was used by ACoC dioceses to justify performing same-sex marriages: The canons don’t mention it, let’s do it.

The ELCIC has not yet given blanket approval for polyamory, but it is on the agenda for discussion. As the article below points out, there are “cultural realities surrounding marriage” and where the culture leads, the ELCIC follows. So does the ACoC.

Who said the slope isn’t slippery.

From here:

This article’s original headline has been changed at the direction of General Synod senior management. {Note: the original title included the word “polyamory”. So much for editorial independence – David}

The Anglican Church of Canada’s full communion partner, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada (ELCIC), will discuss at its convention this summer a set of recommendations on gender and sexuality including one asking that it discern a position on polyamory, the Anglican Journal has learned.

The recommendations come from the ELCIC task force on homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, formed after the Lutherans’ national meeting in 2019 commissioned groups to work on diversity, equity and inclusion for issues of gender and sexuality, racism and ableism. The task force presented its first version in a report at ELCIC’s 2022 National Convention, with an updated version on the table for discussion this summer.

Trina Gallop Blank, ELCIC director of communications, shared the list of recommendations with the Journal. It calls on the ELCIC to promote a healthy understanding of sexuality and consent; review church policies for “language and other systemic problems that might cause harm or inequity to 2SLGBTQIA+” people; increase its visibility as an affirming church by participating in local Pride parades; encourage ELCIC members to specify and acknowledge pronouns wherever they identify themselves or others; make a public apology and, possibly, pay reparations to 2SLGBTQIA+ people who have been harmed by the church; and train its staff on sexual orientation and gender identity, among other things. The list concludes with a statement that the church should create resources to “support listening, safe conversations, and discernment at all levels of the church around healthy, consensual relationships, including ethical non-monogamous relationships.”

The newer version contains many of the same recommendations as the draft submitted in 2022. However, where the current version suggests conversations and discernment around non-monogamous relationships, last year’s included three recommended changes to the church’s treatment of marriage. These state that the church should “review and revise the definition and understanding of ‘marriage’ in the Social Statement on Human Sexuality and the church’s disciplinary policy for rostered ministers to include polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous understandings of marriage.”

A very Merry Christmas to all.

An Oakville church has defined the new normal (do you hate that phrase yet? I do) for inclusion. Male and female are anathema; they have been cast into outer darkness. No more mothers and fathers at baptisms, no more gender labels on the lavatories, no more brothers and sisters.

The bible has been rewritten to expunge any mention of gender – it’s called having “scripture policies” in case you were wondering – and we are all encouraged to marry anything of our choosing. I’m going to marry one of my guitars.

The only personal experience I’ve had of St. Paul’s United Church was a number of years ago. I was one of the organisers of a local March for Jesus. We needed a few friendly places along the way where marchers could relieve themselves if they felt the need. St. Paul’s response was an adamant “no”. I can only assume that their gender-neutral signs weren’t ready, so full inclusion hadn’t kicked in yet.

From here:

Initially, the congregation’s reaction was, ‘Why?’

“Why are we doing this, we are already welcoming, what is the big deal?”, recalled Judy DeMone, co-chair of a committee that has worked over the past two years towards an Affirming status for St. Paul’s United Church.

“Being welcoming suggests that those on the inside have the power to choose who to accept on the outside. This makes it sound like an act of charity to welcome those who are different,” said DeMone. “We have always been a welcoming, friendly church, but being affirming goes deeper and we want to be public, intentional and explicit in our commitment to diversity and inclusion.”

DeMone’s co-chair, 17-year-old Thea Sheridan-Jonah, said she didn’t understand in the beginning that her church was not ready to call itself affirming.

“I go back and notice the little things – the baptism script that laid out one part for a mom and one part for a dad, the gendered washroom signs all across our building, the songs that referred to people as just “sister and brother”, and so many other little actions that we did not understand to be exclusive,” said Sheridan-Jonah.

To become an affirming congregation there is an educational process and several steps to be completed, supported by Affirm United.

“It was an understanding that saying we are welcoming is not enough, putting up a flag or plaque is not enough. We need to do the real work of allyship and learning, so that every member of our community understands that every person must not only be welcomed, but affirmed and involved fully,” said Sheridan-Jonah.

Today, the Rebecca Street church has gender inclusive bathrooms, and scripture, policies and a website that have been adjusted to omit gendered wording.

One of my many character flaws is that I find it immensely satisfying when the Church of England, in spite of Justin Welby’s best efforts to be the Zeitgeist incarnate, is out-inclusioned.

The university that will host Lambeth 2020 is not happy that Kevin Robertson’s husband hasn’t been invited to attend: it is an inclusive university. To teach the Church of England a lesson in Christian inclusion, to show them how it’s done, to demonstrate good disagreement in action, to be a paradigm of reconciliation, the university will “ensure accommodation is available on campus” for Robertson’s other half.

For all intents and purposes, hubby will be there. Smile on.

From here:

A university which has come under fire for hosting an Anglican summit that will exclude same-sex partners is due to meet the Archbishop of Canterbury to raise “significant ethical concerns”.

The University of Kent, which is hosting next year’s Lambeth Conference, faced criticism when it emerged partners of gay bishops had not been invited.

The institution has now said it will ensure accommodation is available on campus for spouses affected who wish to be in Canterbury with their partners.

It comes after a gay bishop whose husband has been barred from attending the once-in-a-decade Anglican summit at the university accused the Archbishop of Canterbury of bowing to homophobia.

Kevin Robertson, a bishop in Toronto, was told by Archbishop Justin Welby that his husband, Mohan Sharma, could not attend the conference because of opposition from ultra-conservative church leaders.

According to the Rev. Canon Greg Smith, Pride parades are about evangelism, family and witness. And nothing whatsoever to do with sex and nudity.

I do wish someone had pointed out to these fellows that they were marching in the wrong parade:

From here (Page 6):

Contrary to some uninformed assumptions, the parade is not about “sex and nudity” but is about the whole human family celebrating together as a witness to a way beyond hate and violence and prejudice.

For those Anglicans taking their place in the parade, it is an evangelizing testimony of the kind of Table to which we have been called in Jesus. Hopefully this is a testimony that will continue to grow.