On July 12, 2019 at the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada in Vancouver, a motion to amend the marriage canon to include same-sex marriage failed in its second reading. It received the required two-thirds majority in the Order of Clergy and the Order of Laity, but failed by a tiny margin in the Order of Bishops.

It is our understanding that individual bishops retain the prerogative to authorize same-sex marriages in their respective dioceses. The Anglican Church of Canada already has many same-sex married laypersons and priests, and at least one same-sex married bishop of which we know.

See the Anglican Journal for a more detailed account of the Synod’s vote and the onsite reactions.

Orthodoxy in Dialogue proposes to host a discussion of this development. Our readers around the planet know that the question of same-sex love, and the possibilities and conditions for its sanctification in the Church’s sacramental economy, have come to occupy a place of prominence in our publishng record beyond anything that we had initially planned.

We welcome articles written in a fraternal spirit, reflective of all sides of the issue, from Anglicans and non-Anglicans alike.

Our offer to host an Anglican debate in an Orthodox forum underscores the fact that the preoccupation with same-sex marriage—and with the wider questions of theological anthropology from which any Christian articulation of sexuality and gender must emerge—crosses ecclesial, denominational, and confessional lines as few other issues today. In a spirit of charitable, ecumenical listening, perhaps we have much to learn from each other. 

We have created a separate Anglican Church and Same-Sex Marriage category at the top of our Archives by Author & Subject. Articles published in this series will be archived there, in the Sexuality and Gender section, and under each author’s name.

Please limit your submission to 1200 words and be sure to include a bio. Refer to our Submission Guidelines for further requirements.

Orthodoxy in Dialogue seeks to promote the free exchange of ideas by offering a wide range of perspectives on an unlimited variety of topics. Our decision to publish implies neither our agreement nor disagreement with an author, in whole or in part.

See the Fifty Years after Stonewall and extensive Sexuality and Gender sections in our Archives by Author & Subject.

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