Canadian Synod Does Not Approve Same-Sex Blessings

http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3459

[The Living Church] 26 June 2007--The Anglican Church of Canada’s constitution stipulates that changes to the church’s doctrine require a two-thirds majority by bishops and delegates at two successive General Synod meetings. When General Synod last met in 2004, the issue of same-sex blessings was referred to the Primate’s Theology Commission for study.

A task force of bishops, led by the Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews, Bishop of Edmonton, prepared the St. Michael’s Report, which found that approval of same-gender blessings would represent a change to church doctrine, but not core doctrine. The St. Michael’s Report was approved earlier during General Synod, which has been meeting since June 19 in Winnipeg.

Debate over Motion A186 began June 23 and involved a number of complex procedural motions, leaving even the outgoing primate, the Most Rev. Andrew Hutchison, perplexed at times. Prior to the start of synod, the church’s Council of General Synod proposed a compromise in which the motion on same-sex blessings would require 60 percent approval at one General Synod meeting. Opponents of same-sex blessings insisted on two-thirds approval from two successive synods, while advocates argued that a simple majority at one synod ought to be sufficient.

Related article:
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/100/article/emotions-run-high-after-blessings-defeated/
Emotions run high after blessings defeated - Anglican Journal
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/06/25/anglican-gay-070625.html
New Westminster Anglicans to continue blessing gay unions - CBC News

Can the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada be really said to have adopted a change in the church's doctrine since the vote does not conform to the requirements of the church's constitution?