If it were required by divine appointment to have a female bishop my choice would be Victoria Matthews of Edmonton, Alberta. Here is her Letter on the "Gay" issue. -- P.T.
October 14, 2003
http://edmonton.anglican.org/Pastoral.html
PASTORAL LETTER TO BE READ IN ALL PARISHES OF THE DIOCESE OF EDMONTON OCTOBER 19TH AT ALL SERVICES.
My dear Friends,
The present controversy about the blessing of same-sex unions and the dispute over episcopal jurisdiction in the Anglican Church of Canada and the wider Communion are most disturbing. The events of the past few weeks have led me to have this pastoral letter read in all parishes of the Diocese.
As many of you are aware I have repeatedly said that the teaching and position of the Anglican Church of Canada is clear. We do not accept the blessing of same-sex unions and the General Synod canon on marriage does not permit same-sex marriage. However the actions of the Synod of New Westminster and its bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Ingham, and the support of this unilateral action by his Metropolitan, Archbishop David Crawley, in spite of the requests of the House of Bishops to not proceed, have led me to make a further statement. In a recent letter signed by our Primate and the Metropolitans of the four Canadian ecclesiastical provinces, this most painful matter of New Westminster proceeding to permit the blessing of same-gender unions is judged to not be a church dividing issue. Many disagree. I can only say that the action of Bishop Ingham and the Diocese of New Westminster, in proceeding with the blessing of same-gender unions, is church defining. The letter from the Metropolitans states that the real crisis is one of jurisdiction and not of sexual ethics. I beg to differ. While no one can tell where the conversation at General Synod will lead, when we yet again engage the topic of same-gender unions, I do not believe there will be unanimous affirmation of New Westminster's actions. Furthermore, I believe the pertinent debate is doctrinal as well as pastoral. The question concerns what the Anglican Church is prepared to call "holy", and how we reach that discernment. Both the content of the question (which involves Biblical teaching, the tradition of the Church and the exercise of human reason), and the process by which we engage the question are important and demand patience and care. When a Canadian diocese refuses to wait upon the direction of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, it is not surprising that some members of our Communion take strong exception. While I can not approve of any bishop acting beyond his or her jurisdiction, I do recognize there is deep frustration at play. The stated intention of Archbishop Crawley to discipline Bishop Terrence Buckle of the Diocese of Yukon is not out of order but it highlights our church's inability to resolve difficulties and disagreements in a healing manner. Dare I say that repentance is in order on all sides?
In the months remaining before General Synod, 2004, I ask this Diocese to be clear about two aspects of the present dilemma. First, I uphold, and expect the Diocese to uphold, the present teaching of our church about same-gender relationships. This means no clergy of this Diocese may bless such a union or marriage. Secondly, I am asking the membership of the Diocese to engage in repentance and prayer. I call for repentance because I believe emotions are running so high that we have lost the ability to listen to one another, and quite possibly also to the Holy Spirit. Repentance means recognizing that in every position in the debate there is a desire to win so others may lose. Indeed, I am convinced we have worked ourselves into a situation where there are only losers, with enormous pain on all sides. This does not give glory to God nor does it further the work of the Kingdom. Thus I ask for our church the grace of repentance and a renewed commitment to prayer. Let us pray that our church may discern the mind of Christ; that we might have the grace to see the way forward; and that we might have the will to obey what we are called by Christ to do. I ask your prayers that future conversations about these difficult matters might have great integrity, avoiding the enormous anger and disappointment presently being expressed by all. Hearing the call of the Gospel, let us conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the communion that is ours in Christ.
Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews
Bishop of Edmonton
cc: The Metropolitans
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon M.A., D.Phil. (Oxon.)
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