It\u2019s nothing to worry about because: there can be no final decision before 2019 and who knows what could happen by then \u2013 Hiltz could retire, Jesus could return (a real shock to the ACoC, since it believes in the parousia as fervently as I believe in unicorns); other parts of the communion will be \u201cconsulted\u201d (and ignored if they disagree); it will be discussed in dioceses (over and over and over again until the opposition weaken from exhaustion).<\/p>\n
Anyway, no priest who is indifferent to his career prospects will be compelled<\/i> to perform same sex marriages.<\/p>\n
From here<\/a>:<\/p>\n That question might be particularly relevant when it comes to controversial matters such as the resolution passed by General Synod in Ottawa, which asks the Council of General Synod to draft a motion to be considered by the next General Synod, when it meets in 2016, to amend the marriage canon to allow same-sex couples to marry, with a conscience clause that gives any clergy, bishop, congregation or diocese that objects the option of not participating. The primate said he had heard from bishops across the theological spectrum that they had experienced \u201ca sense of peace\u201d about the issue after General Synod 2010 published its pastoral statement, following its meeting in Halifax, which they did not experience after the resolution was passed this summer in Ottawa.<\/p>\n The issue is not for the House of Bishops to resolve; it is a matter for the Council of General Synod and the order of bishops in General Synod, Hiltz acknowledged, but he said he opened the discussion with the bishops, understanding that there are tensions and concerns around the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s been a huge effort in the life of the church to talk about this as a pastoral response, not a change of doctrine, and now it feels like the ground has shifted,\u201d Hiltz said. The change to a question of doctrine creates difficulties in dioceses where bishops \u201chave worked really hard to hold all voices and all people together,\u201d and where some people are asking how this shift happened. The motion, he noted, came from individual members of General Synod, not the Council of General Synod or a diocese.<\/p>\n While the issue has been divisive, the primate said he did not have a sense of lines hardening within the House of Bishops. \u201cWe reminded one another that, because it is a doctrinal matter, it will take two successive general synods to do anything in terms of a final decision anyway, and between the first and second reading it would be discussed in provinces and dioceses.\u201d The bishops considered the international reaction and said, \u201cwe ought not have this conversation in isolation, that we should be consulting with other parts of the Communion,\u201d said Hiltz, who will relay the bishops\u2019 input to CoGS.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It\u2019s nothing to worry about because: there can be no final decision before 2019 and who knows what could happen by then \u2013 Hiltz could retire, Jesus could return (a real shock to the ACoC, since it believes in the … Continue reading