Chris Ambidge, national spokesman for an Anglican group that supports same-sex unions, said the national meeting sent mixed messages to Anglicans across Canada and was confusing to everyone who voted.

“What is wrong with having rights of blessing when you’ve already said it’s OK?” he said. “I just don’t understand that.”

Primate-elect Frederick Hiltz said the vote’s outcome showed that several bishops still want to wait and study the issue further. He said there will be an ongoing conversation about same-sex unions and that it will likely come up again at the next national meeting. Hiltz said the few parishes who were previously granted the right to bless same-sex unions in the church’s New Westminster diocese will continue to do so.

“The reality is we have a very divided Synod over this issue and that’s respective of a very divided church,” he said. “There’s no doubt that many people are disappointed as a result of the vote.”

The split threatens to divide Anglicans on either side, even forcing them to leave or switch churches.

Cheryl Chang, a spokesperson for Anglican Essentials, a group which opposes blessing same-sex unions, called Sunday’s vote a “divisive tragedy” for the entire church.

Although opponents of same-sex unions ultimately won, Chang said doctrine devotees believe blessing same-sex unions contradicts the church’s core doctrine. She said people who love scripture might look to the Catholic Church or other organized religions instead.

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Anglican Provinces • Anglican Church of Canada • Canadian General Synod 2007 • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings

1. robroy wrote: “She said people who love scripture might look to the Catholic Church or other organized religions instead.” Wow, talk about raising the white flag. June 25, 8:47 am | [comment link]

2. Harvey wrote: Sounds like someone got something right barely and finally. June 25, 9:36 am | [comment link]

3. libraryjim wrote: Primate-elect Frederick Hiltz said the vote’s outcome showed that several bishops still want to wait and study the issue further. speculation alert: I think the issue is not studying the issue further, but waiting to see how the larger Anglican Communion treats the Episcopal Church (United States) over this issue.  If the AC lets us go off on our merry way unscathed, then the next synod of Canada may have a different outcome. But as I said, this is purely speculation. Jim Elliott June 25, 1:09 pm | [comment link]

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