Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Niagara Approve Blessings

Here is the resolution:

Whereas the Diocese of Niagara wishes to express to the House of Bishops and the Council of General Synod the conviction that we believe that God is calling us to move forward now; to wait before the faithful relationships of our gay and lesbian members are blessed by the Church would be unloving and cause further pain and suffering and

Whereas the Diocese of Niagara respects and honours those within our Diocese who, because of their theological position or as a matter of conscience, cannot agree with the blessings of same sex unions.

Be it resolved:
That this Synod request the Bishop to allow clergy, whose conscience permits, to bless the duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex couples, where at least one party is baptized, and to authorize rites for such blessings.

After much debate, the resolution passed by a wide margin:

CLERGY:
In favour: 82
Opposed:13
Abstained:

LAITY
In favour: 157
Opposed:40
Abstained: 2

Motion carried by 81% of combined houses with 18% opposed.

Niagara becomes the third diocese in the Anglican Church of Canada to pass such a resolution. Ottawa and Montreal approved similar resolutions in October.

J.