The diocese of Toronto synod has approved two motions on human sexuality, neither of which changes its current experimental guidelines limiting same-gender blessings to about 10 parishes. At its November meeting, the synod narrowly approved a motion to send a memorial to General Synod asking that the marriage canon be amended “to allow marriage of all persons legally qualified to marry each other.” The church’s law governing marriage, Canon XXI, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The Toronto synod also approved a motion requesting the Canadian House of Bishops to “withdraw the February 1979 statement on human sexuality which prevents the ordination of persons in committed same-gender relationships.”
