The blessing of same-sex unions is a practice in some parishes of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Episcopal Church in the USA.
The Diocese of New Westminster and the Episcopal Church (USA) both took synodical action to authorise public Rites for the Blessing of same sex unions. This created tensions within the Anglican Communion and the Archbishop of Canterbury requested that the Lambeth Commission review the matter. The Commission issued a report in October, 2004 recommending a moratorium on public Rites of Blessing of s ...
Blessing of same sex unions became a subject of media attention in Vancouver, BC in May, 2003 when Bishop Michael Ingham of the Diocese of New Westminster announced that he had given priests in some parishes the authority to bless gay and lesbian unions.
Bishop Ingham issued a rite of blessing of people in committed same sex unions on May 23, 2003. This was done in response to a request by the Diocesan Synod in June, 2002. The diocese considers that the blessing of same sex couples is one part of their work of community outreach and c ...
The Archbishop of Canterbury requested the Lambeth Commission on Communion to report to him by September, 2004. The Commission was asked to consider the legal and theological implications flowing from decisions related to homosexuality that were apparently threatening the communion. In addition to decisions relating to the blessing of same sex unions, the Commission was asked to examine the decision of the Episcopal Church (USA) to appoint a priest, Gene Robinson, in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops. The Commission was ...
