CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Leaders of the world's Anglican churches said Tuesday that they cannot support ceremonies blessing gay and lesbian relationships, which one bishop in Canada has permitted. "The question of public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions is still a cause of potentially divisive controversy," primates of the 38 national churches and provinces said in a statement following their meeting in Gramado in southern Brazil. "The archbishop of Canterbury spoke for us all when he said that it is through liturgy that we express what we believe and that there is no theological consensus about same-sex unions. Therefore, we as a body cannot support the authorization of such rites," continued the statement, released by the Anglican Communion Office in London. "This is distinct from the duty of pastoral care that is laid upon all Christians to respond with love and understanding to people of all sexual orientations." The bishop of Vancouver, Michael Ingham, divided his own diocese by approving blessing rituals for gays. The bishop of the Yukon, Terrence Buckle, inflamed the controversy this year by offering to become an alternate leader for conservatives in Ingham's diocese. Homosexuality has been a deeply divisive issue among Anglican churches. The Anglican Communion's leader, archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, has drawn criticism for ordaining a gay man when he was primate of the church in Wales. Williams's personal views place him in the liberal wing of the church, but since being appointed to the Canterbury post, he has pledged to affirm the 1998 Lambeth Conference declaration that homosexual relations are "incompatible with Scripture." The declaration also opposed the blessing of same-sex unions.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
21+ steamy photos of Scotland’s finest gay men in Elska Glasgow
February 01 2024 10:07 PM
More Than 50 of Our Favorite LGBTQ+ Moms
May 12 2024 11:44 AM
Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62
April 27 2024 6:13 PM
Latest Stories
Joe Biden sends queer lawmakers & LGBTQ+ allies to Paris Olympics
July 24 2024 12:08 PM
Kamala Harris rides wave of Democratic energy at kickoff event in Wisconsin
July 23 2024 3:36 PM
'Devastated:' A six-week abortion ban will go into effect in Iowa next week
July 23 2024 2:28 PM
Four hours, 44,000 Black women, and one Zoom call
July 23 2024 2:17 PM
Record 1.2 million people show out for Cologne’s Pride parade
July 23 2024 10:51 AM