Two Anglican parishes offer same-sex ceremonies

The dust has barely settled and already, different interpretations of the decisions General Synod made last month about human sexuality have led one parish to publicly offer blessings to same-gender unions, and another to say that it would not deny a parishioner’s request for a same-sex marriage.

During its seven-day meeting in Winnipeg, the church’s highest governing body approved a resolution saying that same-sex blessings are “not in conflict” with the church’s core doctrine but defeated another that would have given dioceses the power to offer them in churches.

There is enough ambiguity in those decisions that it is left open to dioceses and churches to offer same-sex blessings, said Rev. Jim Ferry, who was fired for being involved in a homosexual relationship in 1991. He has since been given some duties at Holy Trinity church in downtown Toronto.

“I think at first there was some confusion (regarding the decisions on sexuality). But after having reflected on them, it seemed that the most important of the two resolutions (the one stating same-sex blessings are “not in conflict” with Anglican core doctrine) had passed,” said Mr. Ferry. “It’s very positive. It moves us out of the realm of canon law into pastoral decision-making.”

In Victoria, B.C., the rector of St. Saviour’s church, Rev. Antonio Osorio, invited lesbian and gay couples to be blessed in his parish during the Sunday service July 1. Four couples showed up to be blessed as a group and as couples, said Mr. Osorio.

“These were people in committed, faithful and long-term relationships,” he said in a telephone interview. “They were there as friends, as members of our community and as volunteers of our church.”

Mr. Osorio said he did not think that he violated any church law since General Synod approved the resolution stating that same-sex blessings were “not in conflict” with core doctrine (dogma.). “I’m not committing any heresy,” he said, adding that it wasn’t the first time that he performed such blessings.

“What I did was consistent with the call for justice in this parish. We have gay and lesbians members of our parish who have been involved with our programs for immigrants, refugees and the homeless. How can we deny them the same justice that we’re advocating for others?”

He said that he is also prepared to perform a same-sex marriage if asked. “I haven’t been asked, but I’m prepared to do that. The sacrament of matrimony is given by the couples; they’re the ones giving themselves to each other. The clergy is merely there as a witness,” he said.

The Anglican Journal tried but failed to get a comment from the diocesan bishop of B.C., James Cowan. But the diocesan archdeacon, Bruce Bryan-Scott was quoted by the Times Colonist newspaper as having said that in offering the blessing, Mr. Osorio was “pushing the envelope” but was not crossing any lines. “He knows what the guidelines are. He knows what’s acceptable.”

Mr. Ferry added that the pastoral letter issued by the house of bishops after their meeting last April provides “some grey areas” on just what a pastoral response to gay and lesbians should be. “It’s certainly expected that we would pray with the people of God, including same-sex couples but that no nuptial blessing is allowed. But there are many, many ways of pronouncing a blessing (and) it would be difficult to monitor what’s happening.”

The bottom line, he added, is that “parishes and clergy that have been doing blessings will continue to do so; we’re not the only parish doing it.”

Mr. Ferry said that prior to General Synod, Holy Trinity church had held a special vestry meeting and had passed a resolution stating that it would “continue to exercise its conscience and bless same-sex unions and marry same-sex couples.”

He said, “I think what we’re doing is saying it’s our intention to move in this direction (marry same-sex couples) if the situation arises.”

He acknowledged that since the canon (church) law definition of marriage has not been revised, performing same-sex marriages “would be a deliberate act of disobedience.” (General Synod asked for a review of the marriage canon to be done before it meets again in 2010.)

Mr Ferry added that Holy Trinity church has not made a blanket offer. “We’re not putting up a sign that says, ‘come one, come all.’ They (same-sex couples) would have to be parishioners and it would involve a lot of hard thinking and would involve a conversation with the bishop.” (The Holy Trinity resolution included a commitment to stay with the church even if it voted against offering same-sex blessings.)