Chronology of Actions taken by the Anglican Church Of Canada & the Diocese of New Westminster in regard to the Issue of Same Sex Unions

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1976 – The House of Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada seeks advice as it faces the issue of homosexuality in contemporary society. In particular they ask how the church should respond pastorally, and in terms of ordination. A national task force is created to examine the issue, and Canadian bishops commit themselves to a period of study and dialogue.

1979 - The House of Bishops makes its first major statement on homosexuality, ordination of gays and same-sex unions in 1979. These guidelines remain in, although amended in 1997. They state: “We believe as Christians, that homosexual persons, as children of God, have a full and equal claim with all other persons, upon the love, acceptance, concern, and pastoral care of the church.” The bishops state that they “do no accept the blessing of homosexual unions.”

1987 – Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster adopts a resolution encouraging congregations “to undertake the study of sexuality and the influences of societal attitudes and our faith on our understanding of sexuality.”

1992 –Diocesan Synod asks Bishop Douglas Hambidge to initiate a study of human sexuality for both clergy and laity. Bishop Hambidge appoints a Task Force on Human Sexuality.

1992 – Diocesan Synod debates and tables a motion endorsing the 1979 Canadian House of Bishops guidelines. It passes a motion asking the House of Bishops to change its discipline regarding to ordination of heterosexual and homosexual persons so that the requirements and standards for ordination are the same for all.

1992 - Delegates to the national General Synod hold an open forum on the topic of sexuality. Delegates request that the House of Bishops and the National Executive Council commission a study of homosexuality and homosexual relationships.

1993 – The Diocese of New Westminster's Task Force on Human Sexuality reports and leads a presentation at Diocesan Synod, including work in small groups. The Task Force recommends a two year programme of study throughout the diocese. The Diocesan Synod also directs the Commissary to reconstitute the Task Force on Human Sexuality so that it reflects the range of theological opinion and expertise in the diocese.

1994 – Motions endorsing the 1979 Canadian House of Bishops guidelines are again debated by Diocesan Synod and tabled.

1995 - Delegates to the national General Synod receive the report on homosexuality and ask that the 1979 statement be updated. The Synod resolves “that the Anglican Church of Canada affirms the presence and contributions of gay men and lesbians in the life of the church and condemns bigotry, violence and hatred directed toward any due to their sexual orientation.” Another motion directs the Doctrine and Worship Committee “to initiate broad- based consultations within the Anglican Church of Canada concerning the liturgical recognition of committed monogamous same-gender unions” is tabled.

1997, February – A diocesan “Day of Dialogue on Homosexuality” is held in the Diocese of New Westminster with several hundred participating. The event was in response to a motion of Diocesan Synod the year before.

1997 – The Canadian House of Bishops meets and after lengthy debate votes to direct a task force to redraft the 1979 guidelines in light of new pastoral awareness, while retaining the original intent of the guidelines. New guidelines concerning the ordination and pastoral care of homosexuals are adopted in October.

1998, May - Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster votes 179 to 170 to request Bishop Ingham to authorize clergy in the diocese to bless covenanted same-sex unions, subject to such conditions as the bishop deems necessary. The bishop withholds his consent from the motion, pending further consultation with the wider church.

1998, May – The national General Synod votes to affirm the House of Bishops in their October, 1997 guidelines, which state that they are not ready to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions and that gay and lesbian persons seeking ordination are required to remain chaste.

1998, June - At the Lambeth Conference in England Anglican bishops vote “rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture” and say they “cannot advise the legitimizing or blessing of same sex unions nor ordaining those involved in same gender unions.” The vote is 526 to 70 with 45 abstentions. The bishops do state, “We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons... “

1999, January - Bishop Ingham establishes up a dialogue process” in the Diocese of New Westminster. He sets several commissions to work on the issue. He says he will authorize the blessing of same sex unions only if a Legal and Canonical Commission rules there are no impediments under civil or church (canon) law to such a blessing, and the diocesan Synod in 2001 votes again to ask him to authorize such blessings by a clear and substantial majority.

1999 through 2001 - Approximately 80 parishes are “twinned” in 40 groups in the Diocese of New Westminster engage in the dialogue process. Each pair of parishes is to hold eight meetings. Parishioners read and discuss four theological papers, to listen to stories of gay and lesbian Anglicans and an ex-gay Anglican, to consider a proposed rite, etc.

1999, November - A diocesan “Day of Dialogue on the Authority and Interpretation of Scripture” is held with several hundred participants.

2000, March - Primates of the 38 Anglican provinces declare that “disagreement over sexual ethics... that clearly exists within and among the Provinces does not necessarily amount to a complete and definitive rupture of communion.” However, the Primates also say that if dioceses ordain non-celibate homosexuals or bless same-sex unions, such actions “threaten the unity of the communion in a profound way.” The Primates “urge such dioceses to weigh the effects of their actions, and to listen to the expressions of pain, anger and perplexity from other parts of the Communion.” The Primates add: “[A] careful, patient and pastoral process must be encouraged; it is not created by the demonising of opponents or by overheated, politicised and polarised language in our conflicts.”

2001, April – A Legal and Canonical Commission reporting to Bishop Ingham rules that a diocesan bishop has the authority to authorize a rite of blessing of same-sex unions, if he wishes to. The three lawyers on the commission (one from the diocese and two from outside the diocese) say any such rite must not be confused with (heterosexual) marriage. The bishop accepts the report.

2001, April - Bishop Ingham brings the matter before the national House of Bishops meeting in Niagara Falls. The House of Bishops makes no statement, but asks that the matter be brought back to them for consultation during the national General Synod, if the diocesan Synod again approves the motion and the Bishop decides to proceed.

2001, June – The Diocesan Synod of New Westminster votes a second time on the same motion asking Bishop Ingham to authorize blessings of same sex unions. The motion passes by an increased majority, 226-174, or 56.5%. Bishop Ingham refuses consent, stating that the margin is insufficient.

2002, June - Following discussions with traditionally conservative clergy, Bishop Ingham states that if Diocesan Synod agrees, he will authorize the blessing of same sex unions, but in so doing establish a conscience clause to ensure that no cleric or parish must participate, if they oppose such blessings. He will also offer to invite a Canadian bishop to offer episcopal pastoral care to clergy and parishes who request this. Bishop Ingham will retain the authority of a diocesan bishop, and perform all episcopal acts.

June 15, 2002 – Diocesan Synod - After a lengthy debate and via a secret ballot, by a vote of 215 to 129, a majority of 62.5%, the members of the Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster approve a motion asking the bishop to authorize a rite of blessing of same sex unions in parishes that wished to proceed with this. As soon as the result of the vote was announced and before the Bishop gives his consent to the motion, lay delegates and clergy representing eight parishes stage a walkout of synod. There is widespread media coverage of this event. Several of those clergy who chose to leave the synod made statements to the media (radio, television & newspaper).

The parishes involved are:

Later on in the proceedings of synod the following motion is passed by those remaining:

That this Synod extend to our brothers and sisters a message of sadness that they have felt unable to remain with us at this Synod meeting today, and an invitation to continue with us in prayer and discussion about ways in which we can celebrate our shared commitment to our faith and in which we can work toward reconciliation.

June, 2002 - The eight parishes began to withhold their assessment payments to the diocese.

August 2002 - Diocesan Canons provide that the diocese could no longer process the stipends of the dissenting clergy through the diocesan payroll system as the diocesan assessments of each of their parishes are not being paid. The group develops its own payroll system.

The Bishop appoints an assistant priest to St. John's Shaughnessy and another to St. Matthew's, Abbotsford. Both men had been requested by the parishes involved, and are of a conservative theology.

September 1, 2002 - Visiting Primates and Bishops attend “A Celebration of Global Anglican Fellowship” held at the South Delta Baptist Church near Vancouver. Participating are Primates from Central Africa and South East Asia, plus representatives of the American Anglican Council and Ekklesia. Priests from the dissenting parishes attend and many participate.

January 31, 2003 - Timothy Cooke voluntarily resigns as Incumbent of St. Monica's, North Vancouver. Bishop Ingham says he felt Mr. Cooke's decision to resign for reasons of conscience but not attempt to take his parish out of the diocese is “an honourable thing to do.”

February 9, 2003 - The Rt. Rev. Charles Murphy, bishop and chair of the American Mission in America, is the guest preacher at a “service of solidarity” which involves the dissenting priests at an interdenominational meeting in Vancouver.

February 17, 2003 - Bishop Terry Buckle of the Yukon writes Bishop Ingham and offers to assume “Alternative Episcopal Oversight” for the dissenting parishes. Bishop Ingham replies that for several reasons he does not feel that would be wise, and turns down the offer.

February 24, 2003 - Bishop Ingham issues an inhibition against Bishop Buckle warning him not to exercise any ministry within the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of New Westminster and informs the diocese of this inhibition.

March 19, 2003 - Despite the inhibition, Bishop Buckle writes the dissenting parishes and offers alternative episcopal oversight to them “and those parishes from within the Diocese of New Westminster that may wish to join this coalition”. Chancellor George Cadman states that the letter “is highly irregular, outside the Canonical structure of the Canadian Church, and a direct violation of Bishop Ingham's desire that people engage in a process of reconciliation” within the diocesan structure. However, at Vestry meetings (full membership meetings), seven of the eight parishes vote to accept Bishop Buckle's offer. (A vote at St. Martin's failed by a small margin.)

March 25, 2003 - Chancellor George Cadman writes to Metropolitan David Crawley to prefer charges against Bishop Buckle.

May 23, 2003 – Bishop Ingham issues a rite of blessing of committed same sex unions and writes letters to six parishes in the diocese who have voted to be places where same sex blessings may be carried out. On May 28 the first blessing ceremony takes place at St. Margaret's, Vancouver, with the blessing of the relationship of two male members of the parish who have been together for 21 years.

May 29-30, 2003 - Diocesan Synod – the withholding parishes fail to send any lay or clerical representatives.

July 13, 2003 - The Vestry of the Parish of Holy Cross, Vancouver, which has a largely Japanese-speaking congregation, votes to join the group of dissenting parishes, to withhold diocesan assessments, and to accept the Bishop of Yukon's offer of alternative episcopal oversight.

September 5, 2003 - In accordance with Diocesan Canon 15, in response to “difficulties or a crisis which in the opinion of the Bishop affects the orderly management and operation of the Parish,” Bishop Ingham reorganises the governance structure of the Parish of St. Martin's, North Vancouver, appointing three Bishop's Wardens and a Parish Executive Committee to replace all persons holding office as wardens and other officers of the Parish. The interim priest-in-charge remains. Diocesan Council endorses the Bishop's action on September 9. By January, 2004, the reorganised parish is able to begin the search for a permanent priest.

September 7, 2003 - A second large meeting is held at the South Delta Baptist Church by the dissenting parishes. The Rt. Rev. Terry Buckle, Bishop of Yukon, take a lead role. Included are the Primates of Central Africa and South India, several representatives of the American Anglican Council, Ekklesia, and the American Mission in America. The dissenting priests sit near the front and accept a “commissioning” by Bishop Buckle.

September 21, 2003 - The congregation of the Mission Church of Holy Cross, Abbotsford, votes to accept the Bishop of Yukon's offer of alternative episcopal oversight. On October 2, 2003, the administrators of the Anglican Initiatives Fund, the vehicle for funding missions within the diocese, acting upon legal advice, terminates the mission's funding. On October 14, the Diocesan Council votes to recommend that the mission itself be terminated. The Bishop takes council's motion under advisement. Following the withdrawal of the Bishop of Yukon (see November 7, below), the Bishop write to the mission's priest-in-charge and lay leaders and asks whether they might reconsider their September motion. Receiving no positive response, the Bishop announces at a meeting of Diocesan Council on December 9 that he is terminating the mission.

October 8, 2003 - Archbishop and Metropolitan David Crawley announce disciplinary proceedings against the Bishop of Yukon.

October 15, 2003 - Chancellor George Cadman brings forward to the Bishop formal charges against seven incumbents under the Diocesan Canon on Discipline. Following Canonical procedure, the Bishop called a Commission of Inquiry and directs it to “to make inquiry into the grounds” of the Chancellor's charges, and to report back within three months. This is the first step under the diocesan Canon on Discipline.

October 28-30, 2003 - At the national House of Bishops' meeting a motion is proposed that requested Bishop Buckle withdraw his offer to assume episcopal jurisdiction, that Metropolitan Crawley to then stay charges against Bishop Buckle, and that Bishop Ingham stay charges against the dissenting priests. Bishop Buckle initially says he could not comply. The meeting passes the motion for the record. The House also asks the Primate to appoint a Task Force to review the issue of Adequate/Alternative Episcopal Oversight

November 7, 2003 - Bishop Buckle reconsiders and in a letter to the Metropolitan states he had withdrawn his offer of episcopal oversight to the withholding parishes of New Westminster. In response, the Metropolitan stays charges against Bishop Buckle, and Bishop Ingham stays the charges against the Incumbents of the withholding parishes.