In the Feb. 2015 Anglican Journal, prominence is given to an article regarding the urging of the Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order (IASCUFO) that the Anglican Church of Canada not amend the marriage canon regarding the marriage of same-sex couples (Don’t change canon, says commission, p.1.)
The article points out that for some in the commission, “the question of same-sex marriage is almost incomprehensible, let alone welcome.” It also says that “according to a principle in the proposed Anglican Covenant, churches consult with each other before taking any step which might be considered controversial.” A reference to the proposed Anglican Covenant fails to mention that it has been rejected in many parts of the Anglican Communion.
Where does this leave the gay people who form part of our Canadian church? It is amazing that any remain, considering how they have been treated, and seemingly continue to be, as second-class Christians.
If the same criteria had been applied 35 years ago, women would not have been ordained in the Canadian church and possibly still would not be.
The emphasis on this article as front-page news and in the editorial would lead one to think that gay people in loving relationships are yet again to be treated as unworthy and unwanted, by some at least. Why does the church always seem to lag so far behind? If it is for the sake of the Communion, we should first consider that putting this issue on the back burner will not make any real difference to those for whom the subject is anathema, and that, in the end, the church—the body of Christ—is people, and [the church] is called to care for people. Some of those people are our gay brothers and sisters in the pews and in the pulpit. Do we respect the dignity of every human being, or just some of them?
The Rev. Canon Roger Young
Kanata, Ont.
