The object on which an Anglican bishop rests his hope rarely fails to confirm my low expectations.<\/p>\n
Fred Hiltz could<\/em> be hoping that the outcome of the debate will align with the Biblical understanding of marriage or, to say it another way, with God\u2019s will for a Christian marriage. Instead, he hopes that there will not be too much squabbling.<\/p>\n From here<\/a>:<\/p>\n Archbishop Fred Hiltz said he is aware that there is anxiety among Anglicans about how the 2016 General Synod will deal with a motion amending the marriage canon (church law) to allow the marriage of same-sex couples.<\/p>\n Hiltz expressed hope that the debates that will precede any decision will be conducted with respect and patience.<\/p>\n He is praying, he added, that people will \u201cknow the leading of the Holy Spirit\u201d and that there will be \u201cgrace in the midst of what will be a very difficult and challenging conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u2026\u2026]<\/p>\n In July 2013, General Synod \u2014 the church\u2019s governing body \u2014 approved Resolution C003, which asked Council of General Synod (CoGS) to prepare and present a motion to change the church\u2019s Canon 21 on marriage \u201cto allow the marriage of same-sex couples in the same way as opposite-sex couples.\u201d<\/p>\n It also asked that this motion include \u201ca conscience clause so that no member of the clergy, bishop, congregation or diocese should be constrained to participate in our authorize [sic] <\/em>such marriages against the dictates of their conscience.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It\u2019s hard to take the prayer \u201cknow the leading of the Holy Spirit\u201d <\/em>seriously, since the \u201cconscience clause\u201d <\/em>(not that anyone takes that<\/em> particularly seriously since those that exercise it will be ridiculed, ostracised and eventually driven out) anticipates disunity, something that would not be present if the delegates were more interested in being informed by the Holy Spirit than in using him as rubber stamp for their own opinions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The object on which an Anglican bishop rests his hope rarely fails to confirm my low expectations. Fred Hiltz could be hoping that the outcome of the debate will align with the Biblical understanding of marriage or, to say it … Continue reading