In the months since General Synod in June gave dioceses the right to retain or abolish their matrimonial commissions, just over one-third have eliminated them and about two-thirds have retained them, with some under review.
The commission, which usually consists of the bishop and one or two other appointees of the bishop, rules on whether a divorced person whose former partner is still living may remarry. The commissions were established by the General Synod of 1962, which approved Canon XXI, called the marriage canon (or church law).
Prior to Canon XXI, Anglican priests could not officiate at any wedding involving a divorced person whose former partner was still living. The Anglican church has relaxed its attitude toward divorce in the intervening decades and the general feeling now is that the suitability of a couple for marriage is a matter best left to the discretion of the parish priest, with room for consultation with the diocesan bishop.
Anglican Journal surveyed the bishops – representing all 30 dioceses – attending the fall meeting of the house of bishops in Saskatoon last November.
Those whose dioceses had discontinued the commissions commented that the process was often a rubber stamp, that it was impersonal and antiquated. Several bishops whose dioceses retained the commissions said the decision was “for now,” but that their value was under review. Several dioceses were strongly in favour of keeping the commissions, saying that clergy had requested their retention and that they were useful for both the couple and the minister.
| Algoma | retained but will be reviewed at May 2005 synod |
| Arctic | retained – helpful for marriage partners and clergy |
| Athabasca | retained – clergy need the pastoral buffer of the commission |
| Brandon | suspended – fewer applications in recent years |
| British Columbia | abolished – clergy decide, may consult with bishop |
| Caledonia | abolished by ecclesiastical province |
| Calgary | mostly abolished, but may be used in difficult situations |
| Central Interior | retained but not often used, will likely be abolished |
| Central Nfld. | retained – commission works with clergy, is useful pastorally |
| Eastern Nfld./Lab. | retained – helps clergy and provides marriage preparation |
| Edmonton | retained at clergy request |
| Fredericton | retained – seen as valuable pastoral tool |
| Huron | abolished – rector makes the decision |
| Keewatin | abolished – applications are made directly to the bishop now |
| Kootenay | abolished – diocese led the move for change to the marriage canon |
| Montreal | retained but under review |
| Moosonee | retained, but will be reviewed at diocesan synod in July 2005 |
| New Westminster | abolished – rector makes the decision |
| Niagara | abolished – have not used it for years |
| Nova Scotia/P.E.I. | retained only for difficult cases |
| Ontario | abolished – clergy have been issued guidelines |
| Ottawa | retained for difficult cases; clergy may decide |
| Qu’Appelle | abolished – synod had requested it 10 years ago |
| Quebec | retained on an on-call basis for clergy who want to use it |
| Rupert’s Land | retained for now, but being reviewed |
| Saskatchewan | retained at request of clergy and synod |
| Saskatoon | retained, but support lukewarm among clergy and diocesan council |
| Toronto | abolished, clergy given guidelines and may consult with bishop |
| Western Nfld. | abolished, clergy may consult bishop or chancellor |
| Yukon | abolished by province, diocese to establish its own |