Anglican parishes in Ottawa continue to wait for Bishop John Chapman to decide whether or not the diocese will support the blessing of same-sex unions – a subject generating much debate over the last decade – but some parishes are more patient than others.
“We wait with interest,” said Very Rev. Shane Parker of his congregation, Christ Church Cathedral. “We have a real phenomenon involving real people, real feelings, and we’re trying to respond in a pastoral way that acknowledges the interests of all parties.”
The diocese’s 2007 synod – an annual diocesan meeting – approved a motion on Oct. 13 asking the bishop to allow clergy to bless same-sex unions, and since then, parishes in Ottawa have been waiting for the bishop’s response.
Out of impatience, some parishes have gone ahead and blessed same-sex unions without permission from the diocese, such as St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, which has been an openly “gay-positive” parish for almost 15 years, said Rev. Dana Fisher.
On its website, St. John’s declares that not only are gays and lesbians welcome in their congregation, but play “an integral role in the life of [their] parish.”
Fisher said her parish is “not happy” the policy decision is taking so long.“We want to be the first church to hold a same-sex marriage."
Fisher’s congregation is one that not only support the blessing of same-sex unions, but the marriage of same-sex couples in the Anglican church – two separate issues – but for now, the bishop is taking one step at a time and is first addressing the possibility of blessing same-sex couples.
There will be no policy announcement before synod – which begins on Oct. 23 – because the bishop needs more time to consult with those affected, said the Ven. Ross Moulton, executive archdeacon to the bishop.
“The bishop doesn’t really have any comment to add at this point,” Moulton said in an interview, on behalf of the bishop. “He feels he really doesn’t have anything to say until the synod meeting… there will be a clearer statement to share [then].”
The bishop was supposed to announce his decision this summer after attending the Lambeth conference, an international gathering of Anglican bishops held only once a decade.
Although he has yet to report on what was discussed at Lambeth, the bishop said he felt no progress was made on the issue of gay rights while at the conference, the Ottawa diocese newspaper Crosstalk recently reported.
A year ago, the bishop warned the public that the final decision on whether the diocese would bless gay unions was up to him, and that it would take some time.
Parker said the cathedral congregation contains a range of views on the issue, but until more facts are made available, he will reserve judgement on whether or not he will support the blessing of same-sex couples.
“I’m very sympathetic,” he said. “Our experience in North America is not one where we’re trying to plow through the blessing of same-sex marriages . . . we’re responding to the lives of people.”