“In that case,we ought to stop wasting each other’s time by gathering this way and supporting these structures.” Synod business was adjourned to allow people to process the decision.
Sydney Diocese strongly opposes gay marriage and has vociferously opposed a decision by Perth’s female archbishop,Kay Goldsworthy,to give the job of Precentor at St George’s Cathedral in Perth to a man in a same-sex civil union.
After two general synod meetings were cancelled due to COVID-19,this was the first national meeting since the church’s top dispute resolution body in 2020 upheld a decision by the Wangaratta Diocese in Victoria to bless a same-sex marriage.
Sydney Diocese took the highly unusual step of calling on the general synod to endorse two statements — one that marriage was between a man and a woman,and another that all other sexual activity was unchaste. The second statement was passed.
The debate revealed deep divisions,with some pleading with the synod to embrace the diversity of people of faith,others saying the national church should allow differences of opinion,and some arguing that it would be unbiblical to bless same-sex marriage.
Proponents also argued a vote in favour would protect the church from discrimination laws and clarify the church’s official and legal position.
Sydney also put a motion condemning bullying,abuse and hurtful behaviour,and apologised and sought forgiveness from lesbian,gay,bisexual,transgender or intersex people who have been treated that way.
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Regardless of the decision made by general synod,each diocese can still make its own decisions,just as they do on the ordination of women — another schism in the Anglican church — with some appointing female bishops and others,such as Sydney,allowing female deacons only.
The decisions by the houses of laity and clergy indicate,however,the increasing spread of Sydney’s brand of Anglicanism across Australia. Sydney has a more evangelical,low church — less emphasis on ritual and sacraments — approach to the faith than in other dioceses.
One jurisdiction in which the issue of same-sex marriage split the church was Canada,where opponents of same-sex marriage formed the Anglican Network of Canada,which is,like Sydney’s Anglican Diocese,involved in GAFCON,a global movement to restore the bible to the heart of the faith.
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