A process as trivial as voting doesn’t stop liberals; if liberals don’t get their own way through a vote, obviously the rules will have to change to make voting redundant. The important thing is to discern what the spirit is saying to the church – the spirit of theological liberalism, that is.
From here:
Council of General Synod (CoGS) unanimously agreed March 12 to send to the upcoming General Synod a draft resolution prepared by the Commission on the Marriage Canon changing the Anglican Church of Canada’s law to pave the way for same-sex marriage.
At the same time, however, CoGS said that while it is legally obliged by General Synod 2013’s Resolution C003 to send the same-sex marriage motion to General Synod 2016, it has also considered “the possibility of other options.”
In a message to the church, CoGS said, “The General Synod may discern a legislative option is not the most helpful, and if so, we faithfully hope that through dialogue at General Synod an alternate way will emerge.”
CoGS did not indicate what these “other options” might be, but the message was clearly a response to an earlier statement it received from the House of Bishops that a vote to allow same-sex marriage was “not likely to pass in the Order of Bishops.” In their statement to CoGS, the bishops had also questioned whether “a legislative procedure is the most helpful way” of dealing with the issue of gay marriage.
[….]
In its statement to the church, CoGS also said, “We recommend the greatest pastoral response possible, allowing same-sex couples to be fully included in the life of our church with full and equal access to its liturgies and pastoral offices.”
The wording of this last sentence was cause for much debate on the floor of the Council when it was presented to members for approval. The original draft had read, “We must permit the greatest pastoral response possible, allowing same-sex couples to be fully included in the life of our church with full and equal access to its liturgies and pastoral offices,” and some CoGS members felt this came too close to telling General Synod how it should vote.
“When we do this, when we say, ‘You have full access to the liturgies and pastoral care,’ we’re saying, ‘Go ahead and marry,’ ” said Bishop Larry Robertson, of the diocese of the Yukon, expressing an opinion also stated by Archdeacon Terry Leer, of the diocese of Athabasca. “I cannot and will not accept that.”
Surely a vote is needed to change Canon Law?
The terminology in these situations is NOT liberal vs. conservative but apostasy vs. orthodoxy. You can be sure the apostates will do everything in their power to get what they want and have no use for the GOSPEL or truth. The time has come for true Bishops to join with ANIC as they will continue to be pressured by the apostates to surrender.
Marriage canon will eventually change.
The only thing to do is get out of the Anglican Church, the Bishops are clueless, they are a lost cause, no point contending with them any more.
The big danger, is that people stay, and “put up with it”, all that nonsense.
Do you know many of our HoB personally? Do you send your friends in the House reasoned letters and good literature, and assure them of your prayers?
They are no more a lost cause than any of us is.
The BCP bids us pray very regularly for ALL bishops, priests and deacons.
Yes, indeed, we need to pray for ALL clergy. However, he apostates within this group are too full of themselves to accept the authority of Scripture and are determined to force all under their jurisdiction to worship their god – notice the small “g” – of political correctness, a deceptive term in itself. All clergy that refuse to accept both the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ should resign or be removed from office until they have shown true repentance. This is no different if I choose to not do my work in any secular occupation.
I have left the ACoC for an ANiC congregation, but any time I feel tempted to condemn the faithful clergy and bishops who remain, I think of Athanasius, and I don’t feel so judgmental. Pray for them.
That’s the spirit!
This problem is not just in the Anglican Church, it seems to be everywhere in Churches that have a overarching administration composed of Bishops, Primates …..this “leadership “, sad to say is clueless…..it is a non-stop “top down” flow of stupid ideas and stupidity.
How did they get so stupid ? Liberal groupthink is a big part of it, I maintain they are hopeless, best to just get out and find a Bible believing small Church.
Of course I personally want it to change. 😀
On what basis would you support such a change. For an individual or church to be Christian one must accept fully the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ. There is nothing whatever in Scripture that would support such a change.
There is almost nothing clear and definite in the Scriptures, which is why there are so many denominations, and indeed why Christianity endures. God gave us a brain to interpret the world, and we can’t help using it. Whenever a “definite” answer is given to a group of Christians, sooner or later that group splinters. Sometimes a specific group dies out. That may well happen with the Anglican Church of Canada, but that’s the way of the world. Enjoy ANiC, which is proof that the system works.
What I personally can’t help seeing in the New Testament is a diffuse yet intense call to general kindness. Hence my choices.