Here is Bishop Jane Alexander’s statement:

Statement from Bishop Jane Alexander in response to General Synod’s decision last night not to amend the Marriage Canon:
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
I write to you from General Synod in Toronto. By now most of you will have seen or heard the results of our discussions on the proposed amendment to the marriage canon, Canon 21, that took place yesterday. I share with you quite openly that :
• I am sick at heart for the outcome of the vote that defeated the motion.
• I am sick at heart, because an opportunity to discuss the Canon and engage with the Report of the Marriage Commission for the next three years was not endorsed by the Synod.
• I am sick at heart that many people in the church will feel that they are not loved or valued and that the church has said that we have no need of you.
• I am sick at heart because as of this moment, Tuesday morning, there is a sense of exclusion for many people.

However, I want to tell you brothers and sisters of some fairly amazing things which happened.
• The General Synod voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting the amendment, 72%. I want to tell you that I think this shows the will of the church and a desire to keep engaged and to keep talking about how we reach out sacramentally to our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. It is a peculiarity of our voting system on these types of resolutions that a single vote in a single house could defeat the motion.
• We heard some extraordinarily moving, profound, biblical and faith based testimonies from members of synod who hold quite differing positions and we were blessed. This has been our experience in Edmonton.
• The majority of synod delegates were in favour of holding space open in church and walking together with those who disagree profoundly on this issue. This has been our experience in Edmonton.
• Overall there was an increased sense of respect that we are all faithful children of God and that decisions were not being made lightly and without reference to scripture and hours of prayer. This has been our experience in Edmonton.
• The vote itself, 72% in favour across houses, is a testimony to the church that at the very least we want to engage, we want to talk, and we want to include. This is not a church that has said “I have no need of you.”

As many of you know from my comments to you personally, at synods and here at General Synod, I am in favour of being able to offer all of the sacraments of the church to all God’s children. I want to be part of a broad and inclusive church. I ask you to be patient with me as I work out our next steps in the Diocese of Edmonton. All persons who are civilly married can receive the blessing of the church, regardless of gender. No cleric is compelled to bless a marriage, no cleric is forbidden from blessing a marriage.

Every single one of us, lay or ordained, in favour of a change in the definition of marriage or opposed, all of us are compelled to seek the face of Christ in all persons and to love and serve them. All of us are called to uphold the dignity of every human being and through our words and our actions show something of the outrageous and extravagant love of God for his children.

Please know that I love you, and that I ask for your prayers in the days ahead. May God send His healing Spirit upon all who are hurting, or confused and give us all the peace of Christ.
In His Name
+Jane