https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9wGG62UvCGg8ztt2fBHdpQTsr6YPOUT/view?usp=drive_link
The House of Bishops in response to the Opinions of the Appellate Tribunal published a statement on 11 November 2020
We recognise that the Appellate Tribunal Opinions affirm it is possible for clergy, in
some contexts, to exercise a liturgical blessing of couples who have been married
according to the Marriage Act 1961, including same-sex couples.
https://anglican.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/House-of-Bishops-Statement-Nov-20.pdf
St. Philip’s Collingwood – working towards Anglican Equality in Same Sex Marriage.
Archbishop Freier told clergy: “I am very conscious of the pain that members of our church who are in same sex partnerships experience at this time when the society has changed in a way that the church hasn’t. Beyond these members of our church there are the parents, grandparents and family friends who will be sharing the family table at Christmas and wondering about what the church says about the relationships of loved ones that are now equivalent at law to heterosexual relationships.”
From a retired priest to the Archbishop:
It is indeed a day for great rejoicing – and pride in our country. I celebrate (alone tonight) with a deep sense of relief and thankfulness but as an authorised marriage celebrant myself, I will remain unable to perform any marriage ceremony between people of the same gender, even friends, should they honour me by asking. Why? Because my church will not allow me to do so. And is unlikely to allow me in my lifetime. In order to have that joy I would need to leave the church completely – the church of my forebears, the church of my lifetime nurture in the faith, the church I have loved and served all my life. How’s that for justice? The “secular nation” (which I also love as a proud and committed Australian), has moved on to new liberty. And I am left behind. Not only I, but hundreds of wonderful priests and lay people who long to join the festivities but cannot – except in wistful solidarity with our non-Anglican sisters and brothers.’
“It will take more of the grace that I have spoken about for us to have a respectful conversation about how the Church ministers in the tension between the changes to the Marriage Act and our teaching on Holy Matrimony,” Archbishop Freier wrote. “I propose that we have intentional conversations about this next year (2018). It will be good to prepare for this well and I will be looking for the best way these conversations can take place safely, gracefully and productively. Please open up your own heart to the discernment of what contribution you can make.
LGBT in the Episcopal Church
In 1976, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church declared that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church” (1976-A069). Since then, faithful Episcopalians have been working toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all of God’s children.
Along the way, The Episcopal Church has garnered a lot of attention, but with the help of organizations such as Integrity USA, the church has continued its work toward full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Episcopalians. In 2003, the first openly gay bishop was consecrated; in 2009, General Convention resolved that God’s call is open to all; in 2012, a provisional rite of blessing for same-gender relationships was authorized, and discrimination against transgender persons in the ordination process was officially prohibited; and in 2015, the canons of the church were changed to make the rite of marriage available to all people, regardless of gender.
To our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender brothers, sisters and siblings: “The Episcopal Church welcomes you!”
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/lgbt-church
Anglican Leaders Censure Episcopal Church For Stance On Homosexuality
The Episcopal Church has been disciplined by the Anglican Communion, the international faith fellowship of which the church is a part, over deep disagreements about homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
The church has not been removed from the communion. However, it will be barred from Anglican decision-making for three years and will no longer represent the community in ecumenical or interfaith bodies, the Anglican organization has decided.
The Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop in 2003. In 2012, the church voted to allow blessings over same-sex unions, while not calling them identical to marriage. Then last year, the church’s highest body voted to formally approve Episcopalian same-sex marriages.
More-conservative churches within the international Anglican community disagree with those decisions.
In a statement, coming near the end of a weeklong meeting of its leaders, the Anglican Communion called the Episcopal decisions on marriage “a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces.”
The Anglican tradition defines marriage “as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union,” the leaders said, calling the Episcopal Church’s decision to accept gay marriage a unilateral action that caused “deep pain” in the community.
The deep division in the faith over issues of sexuality reflects a geographic divide — Anglican churches in the global Southern Hemisphere generally have stricter views on the subject, as NPR’s Tom Gjelten reported on All Things Considered Wednesday:
“The differences are complicated by history. Anglicanism in the global south is an outgrowth of British colonialism. This week’s meeting was called by the Rev. Justin Welby, who, as the archbishop of Canterbury, is the global Anglican leader.
“Welby, who has traveled widely in Africa and elsewhere, told a Washington audience recently that he has found many Anglican leaders feeling like new moral values are being imposed on them by their old colonial masters. …
“One more consideration — Christians in the global south often compete with Muslims. Philip Jenkins, a religion historian at Baylor University, says their resistance to same-sex marriage must be seen in that context: ‘If they were ever to waver on these gay issues, they think that would just hand a massive propaganda victory to Muslims.’ “
In addition to sanctioning the Episcopal Church, the Anglican leadership will also establish a task force “with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognising the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ,” the group says.
The Episcopal Church is the only Anglican body to have fully endorsed gay marriage, The Associated Press notes, but Anglican churches in Brazil, South Africa, New Zealand and Scotland have moved to recognize same-sex relationships. And Canada’s Anglican Church is scheduled to vote this year on whether to authorize gay marriage.
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/14/463085910/anglican-leaders-censure-episcopal-church-for-stance-on-homosexuality
