A small oasis of sanity in the vast desert of ACoC sexual neuroses.<\/p>\n
Read it all in the Journal<\/a>:<\/p>\n As the Anglican Church of Canada prepares for a controversial vote on whether or not to change its laws to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples, the diocese of the Arctic has sent a memorial <\/a>to General Synod stating its commitment to maintaining the status quo.<\/p>\n The memorial, passed at the Arctic\u2019s 2016 diocesan synod in May, also notes that the diocese seeks to \u201cpreserve the unity of the church,\u201d and expresses a \u201csincere hope that [the diocese] can remain in fellowship and ministry with the Anglican Church of Canada, while standing with the larger Anglican Communion.\u201d<\/p>\n Holy Matrimony \u201cis a creation ordinance which is restricted to, and defined as, a covenant between a man and a woman,\u201d the memorial says. \u201cWe seek to protect and promote this sacrament for the strengthening of the family, the stability of society, the unity of God\u2019s church, and the common good.\u201d<\/p>\n [\u2026.]<\/p>\n The diocese has been outspoken on matters of human sexuality in the past. In 2005, the Arctic\u2019s diocesan synod amended its canon<\/a>\u00a0on the order and eligibility for licensing and banned employment of anyone involved in a sexual relationship outside of heterosexual marriage, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and those who willingly engage in sexual activities with a minor.<\/p>\n At the time, then Arctic Bishop Andrew Atagotaaluk and Bishop Larry Robertson (then suffragan of Mackenzie and Kitikmeot) explained that the law was passed to ensure diocesan employees maintained a lifestyle congruent with the diocese\u2019s understanding of biblical sexual ethics.<\/p>\n While the memorial states that the diocese is \u201ccommitted to human flourishing, equal opportunities, dignity and justice for all,\u201d it is not clear whether this commitment to \u201cequal opportunities\u201d indicates a change in official diocesan hiring practices.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A small oasis of sanity in the vast desert of ACoC sexual neuroses. Read it all in the Journal: As the Anglican Church of Canada prepares for a controversial vote on whether or not to change its laws to allow … Continue reading