Tag Archives: Diocese of Edmonton

Bishop of Edmonton responds to same-sex marriage decision

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Jane Alexander reacts to the recent house of bishops meeting where the bishops announced that the same-sex marriage motion to come before General Synod 2016 will not have the necessary support from the bishops to pass.

Alexander is another liberal, so her comments below are no surprise.

We still have no statements from any of the conservative bishops who have said they will vote against the motion. Are they all shy?

From here:

March 2, 2016
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I have just returned to the diocese following a special meeting of the House of  Bishops and a meeting of the Provincial House of Bishops of Rupert’s Land prior to the consecration of William Cliff as Bishop of Brandon.
It is my hope that by now you will have had the opportunity to read the House of Bishops Statement (http://www.anglican.ca/news/statement-from-the-house-of-bishops-from-its-specialmeeting/30015170/) as well as the report of the Commission on the Marriage Canon ‘This Holy Estate’ (http://www.anglican.ca/wp-content/uploads/Marriage Canon REPORT 15Sept22.pdf).
As the 2016 meeting of General Synod draws nearer, there was an overwhelming feeling in the
House of Bishops that we should share with the Council of General Synod (CoGS) just where the Bishops are in their consideration of a change to the marriage canon. Our statement is our attempt to be honest about the position in which we find ourselves.
In this diocese, we have passed a motion that allows for the blessing of a civil marriage between two people regardless of gender. I fully stand by this decision of our synod, and feel that marriages between faithful Christians of the same gender can be seen as a sacrament and give glory to God. I apologize to those members of our community, LGBTQ and heterosexual, who have been hurt and confused by the Bishops issuing their statement. I want to tell you that it was not done with malice or in an attempt to stop us talking at General Synod. Rather, it was an effort to be open and honest about our conversations. We are often asked as a House of Bishops to comment on our discussions at our meetings, and this is our attempt to do so.
I will continue to try and do all in my power to be a symbol of unity in the Diocese of Edmonton, in the Anglican Church of Canada, and in the wider Anglican Communion. I am convinced that in the power of Jesus Christ we will find a way forward. I encourage all of us as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ to continue in prayer and fellowship and to seek the will of God. It is my deepest prayer that we may all be one as Jesus and the Father are one (John 17).
Yours in Christ,
The Rt. Rev. Jane Alexander
Bishop of Edmonton

 

Diocese of Edmonton does instant Christianity

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Much as instant coffee doesn’t bear much resemblance to brewed coffee or McDonald’s hamburgers to real beef, so fast-favillous Christianity doesn’t have much in common with the real thing.

Although I think taking the church outside the buildings is generally a good idea, the Ashes to go fad seems to be yet another example of a church clinging desperately to rituals which, over the years, it has worked strenuously to drain of meaning. Having nothing left but the empty husk and their fancy dress, the bishop and her tribe of clerics parade themselves in public, a charade where the bystanders have to guess whether, perhaps, the church is smearing carbon on people as yet another protest against global warming.

AshesFrom here:

In 2010, the Anglican Diocese of Edmonton joined the international “Ashes to Go” initiative to share God’s love and mercy in informal settings such as train stops, shopping malls and neighbourhood streets.

In the heart of downtown, Bishop Jane Alexander, Dean Neil Gordon, Archdeacon Chris Pappas and Lutheran Pastor Ingrid Dörschel greeted commuters at the Churchill LRT Station.

The Diocese of Edmonton consigns itself to history’s church dustbin as it converses itself into irrelevance

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A brief perusal of the diocesan rag reveals:

The diocese voted by 80% laity and 70% clergy to bless same-sex liaisons, demonstrating the lemming like instinct of catering to 0.69% of couples at the expense of 99.31% of couples. This calls for a “we are the 99.31%” Occupation initiative.

The bishop is telling everyone not to worry: she wouldn’t do so if there were not good reasons to worry.

The diocese is convinced that the Gospel has a more than infinitesimally tenuous connection to the Five Marks of Mission.

The bishop makes much of “walking together” and “finding common ground” – clearly, she didn’t notice how well that worked for Rowan Williams.

Apparently, the diocese has “embraced a proactive approach to ministry”; it obviously believes that committing verbicide in the interests of maximising incoherence is going to help.

The expected clichés are scattered with abandon throughout the paper: “standing together against global injustice”; “sustain and renew the life of the earth”; “safeguarding creation”; “transforming unjust structures of society”; “fair trade diocese” …. And so on, forever and ever awomen.

All that is missing is the only thing that is needed: a desire to bring people to reconciliation with God the Father through the atoning sacrifice of God the Son in order that they might attain life everlasting.

Diocese of Edmonton to vote on same-sex blessings at October Synod

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From here, where there is also a report on “human sexuality” that informs us that it is all about far more than just what is done with our genitalia. Who knew? Read it for yourself, but it seems clear to me that the tenor of the report is to push for passage of the resolution while hoping that conservatives don’t leave because of it. After all, they probably contribute most of the money.

Resolution – G-3 – Blessing Same-Gender Committed Unions

Moved by: Very Rev. Neil Gordon

Seconded by: Ven. Chris Pappas

Be it resolved:

That Synod request the Bishop to grant permission to any clergy who may wish to offer prayers of blessing for covenanted same-gender relationships.

h/t: A Reasonable Faith