Canadian decision exacerbates crisis in communion
The following statement was released by Archbishop Drexel Gomez, primate of the West Indies, today in response to the Synod of the Anglican Church in Canada’s decision to accept “the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships.”
Archbishop Gomez, speaking with and for several other orthodox Anglican leaders, notes that the statement goes much further than the original Canadian motion to allow same sex blessings and uses terms reserved for marriage to describe same-sex relationships. He offers solidarity with and prayers for orthodox Anglicans in Canada.
The full text of the statement:
Warm greetings from the Bahamas where a group has been meeting in theological consultation about the current crisis in the Anglican Communion. Word has come to us of very serious actions of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada. We note the decision to defer paragraph (2) of resolution A-134 to the Primates Theological Committee for a determination as to whether or not the implementation of liturgies for the blessing of same-sex unions represents a doctrinal change.
We are sad, however, that the General Synod of the ACC has passed an amendment to resolution A-134 which has the effect of negating the deferral of paragraph 2 to the Primates Theological Committee. In our view, the amendment is much more serious than even the original form of the motion which did not describe the nature of same-sex unions.
The amendment goes much further than the original motion in employing expressions which Scripture uses to describe marriage (Eph 5:25–33). In accordance with Scripture, your own Prayer Book uses this language in its marriage service. It is completely unacceptable to Bible believing orthodox Christians that same-sex unions are described as “holy.” Such language is reserved for marriage alone.
The attempt to give “committed adult same sex relationships” the same theological stature as marriage exacerbates the crisis in the communion and will reap devastating consequences.
We stand in solidarity with you as you seek to maintain catholic faith and practice and to reject such innovations. Please be sure we are praying for you in this critical time in the life of the church.
Archbishop Drexel Gomez
on behalf of the Theological Consultation in Nassau, June 3. 2004