Anglican/Episcopal Same-sex blessings get the nod in Nova Scotia, PEI

Fintan · Sep 17, 2011

Tad old, but just saw this today.

Anglican/Episcopal Same-sex blessings get the nod in Nova Scotia, PEI

The blessing of civil marriages between same-sex couples can now take place in the Anglican diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

A resolution giving priests and parishes the option to bless same-sex unions was approved, by a majority vote, at the 143rd synod of the diocese on May 27 in Halifax.

Parishes and clergy are free to opt out of blessing same-sex unions, the diocesan bishop, Sue Moxley, told Anglican Journal. Interviewed via e-mail, Bishop Moxley added that parishes will need “to decide where they want to be with a pastoral response” on the issue.

Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island becomes the eighth diocese within the Anglican Church of Canada to move forward with same-sex blessings, an issue that has divided Anglicans here and abroad. The other dioceses are New Westminster, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, Ottawa, British Columbia, and Toronto. The Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI) has also passed a motion asking its bishop to allow clergy “whose conscience permits” to bless same-sex unions.

“I was pleased to see it (pass),” said the Rev. Randy Townsend, rector of Saint John’s Anglican Church. The tone of the debate around the contentious issue was “excellent, it was very respectful,” he added.

The Rev. Stephen Ashton, rector of Trinity Anglican Church, said he and his congregation were “very disappointed” with the decision. “The blessing of same-sex and in fact, homosexual activity, is contrary to Scripture,” he said.

Asked whether some parishes opposed to same-sex blessings might follow in the footsteps of parishes from other dioceses that have left the Anglican church, Ashton said it is “still early days.”

Townsend said he does not foresee a deluge of same-sex couples wanting a blessing as a result of the resolution. “We rarely get a request to perform marriages between heterosexual couples in church anymore, let alone a request to bless same-sex civil marriages,” he said. “I don’t think it will make a huge change.”
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Anglican/Episcopal Same-sex blessings get the nod in Nova Scotia, PEI

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Fintan
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