The Anglican diocese of Ottawa has voted to approve the blessings of same-sex relationships in a move likely to open a new front in the war between conservatives and liberals in the worldwide Church.
The American branch of the denomination already is the target of dissent by conservatives over the ordination of an openly gay man as a bishop.
On the weekend delegates to the diocese of Ottawa, which encompasses Canada's capital and much of Eastern Ontario, voted 177 to 97 to allow priests to bless the unions of same-sex couples.
The motion, however, will leave it up to the bishop to accept or reject the vote. Bishop John Chapman told a news conference that he intends to take his time before reaching a decision. "It could be one day to 10 years," he said. Chapman said he will confer with other Anglican bishops - both nationally and internationally. But he told reporters that the large support for the motion within the diocese was a signal of where church members are.
While the motion would allow priests to bless gay and lesbian unions, including marriages, it does not permit priests to perform wedding ceremonies. Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada.
The vote followed three hours of often emotional debate.
Chapman said that the vote showed that "we’re not afraid to walk alone" - a reference to threats by conservatives to shun the Episcopal Church in the US over its relationship with gays.
The divisions in the church have steadily grown since the ordination of Gene Robinson as Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 and the Anglican Church of Canada diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia approved same-sex blessing ceremonies. While the diocese of New Westminster has put a hold on same-sex blessing ceremonies, this weekend's vote by the diocese of Ottawa is likely to put pressure on the Canadian Church.
The Ottawa diocese is the first to consider the matter since the triennial General Synod, the Canadian Church's national governing body, agreed in June that same-sex blessings are "not in conflict'' with core church doctrine.
The synod, however, declined by a slim margin to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer such blessings.
The American branch of the denomination already is the target of dissent by conservatives over the ordination of an openly gay man as a bishop.
On the weekend delegates to the diocese of Ottawa, which encompasses Canada's capital and much of Eastern Ontario, voted 177 to 97 to allow priests to bless the unions of same-sex couples.
The motion, however, will leave it up to the bishop to accept or reject the vote. Bishop John Chapman told a news conference that he intends to take his time before reaching a decision. "It could be one day to 10 years," he said. Chapman said he will confer with other Anglican bishops - both nationally and internationally. But he told reporters that the large support for the motion within the diocese was a signal of where church members are.
While the motion would allow priests to bless gay and lesbian unions, including marriages, it does not permit priests to perform wedding ceremonies. Same-sex marriage is legal in Canada.
The vote followed three hours of often emotional debate.
Chapman said that the vote showed that "we’re not afraid to walk alone" - a reference to threats by conservatives to shun the Episcopal Church in the US over its relationship with gays.
The divisions in the church have steadily grown since the ordination of Gene Robinson as Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 and the Anglican Church of Canada diocese of New Westminster in British Columbia approved same-sex blessing ceremonies. While the diocese of New Westminster has put a hold on same-sex blessing ceremonies, this weekend's vote by the diocese of Ottawa is likely to put pressure on the Canadian Church.
The Ottawa diocese is the first to consider the matter since the triennial General Synod, the Canadian Church's national governing body, agreed in June that same-sex blessings are "not in conflict'' with core church doctrine.
The synod, however, declined by a slim margin to affirm the authority of dioceses to offer such blessings.
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