Parishioners of St. Hilda's Anglican Church in Sechelt voted Nov. 14 to allow the blessing of same-sex relationships.St. Hilda's is the seventh parish of the Anglican Church of Canada to approve the controversial rite.
Before the vote, one parishioner spoke of her own happy marriage and her wish that gay couples might find the same kind of lifelong partnership.
"We've had 50 years of happiness and I would never deprive anyone else of that," she said. "Christ taught us to love one another. I believe [the rite of blessing] is a way of showing that love."
St. Hilda's priest, Rev. Mark Lemon, said he was "really moved at the level of consensus that the vote demonstrated in our parish."
Almost 90 per cent of the votes were in favour of St. Hilda's becoming an "affirming parish" where gay couples can be blessed in the church. Of 218 parishioners who were eligible to vote, 137 cast ballots: 122 "yes", nine "no" and six spoiled ballots.
Lemon said it is important to be sensitive to a whole range of opinion, and he plans to continue dialogue with all members of St. Hilda's and the wider community on this topic.
However, he added, "It's important that we celebrate what I consider to be a victory for justice and for healing a long-standing wound in our church: 2,000 years of ostracization and discrimination against homosexuals based on what I feel is an unhealthy reading of scripture."
Lemon said the rite of blessing is distinct from marriage, although it has some similarities to a marriage ceremony. "We are affirming the sanctity and the integrity of the love two people have found with one another," said Lemon.Heterosexual couples could also be blessed using the new rite.
The issue of blessing same-sex couples has been controversial in the Anglican Church. In 2002, the Diocese of New Westminster decided to allow priests to bless gay couples in long-term, faithful relationships, but stopped short of approving gay marriages. Although Bishop Michael Ingham promised no priests or parishes would be required to conduct such blessings against their consciences, several conservative churches, including St. Andrew's in Pender Harbour (now re-named Christ the Redeemer), left the Canadian church over this issue.
Before voting on the same-sex blessing question, St. Hilda's held a series of discussions, facilitated by former school superintendent Clifford Smith. During one session, gay parishioners and parishioners with gay relatives shared their stories with the rest of St. Hilda's congregation. At another, the group discussed Biblical passages dealing with homosexuality.
According to Lemon, "Nowhere in the Bible is there a condemnation of a committed gay relationship."
