The General Synod of the Church of England’s recent decision to permit priests to bless same-sex civil unions has prompted responses from both within and outside the church.
In a historic move, the General Synod voted 250 to 181 in favour of a proposal by bishops that would allow individual churches to bless same-sex unions. The move was welcomed by some as a step towards greater inclusion and equality, while others expressed disappointment and concern that the church was deviating from biblical teaching.
The Church of England is the mother church of the Anglican Communion, a global family of churches that share the same faith. However, as an autonomous province, the Church of England’s decision does not have any bearing on the practices of other provinces.
In a pastoral letter by the Most Reverend Datuk Melter Jiki Tais, Primate of the Anglican Church in South East Asia, Bishop of Sabah, expressed his disappointment with the Church of England’s decision.
The letter affirmed that the blessing of same-sex unions has no biblical ground and reiterated the commitment of the Anglican Church in South East Asia to the teaching of Scripture. It also noted that the province would remain faithful to Scripture and the Anglican Formularies, while praying for and speaking boldly for God’s truth.
The letter was jointly signed by the Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute (Bishop of Kuching). the Right Reverend Dr Titus Chung Khiam Boon (Bishop of Singapore), and the Right Reverend Dr Steven Abbarow (Bishop of West Malaysia),
The Anglican Church in South East Asia is known for its conservative stance on theological issues, including homosexuality, and its response to the Church of England’s decision is consistent with its conservative position.
The Church of England’s decision has also prompted criticism from some campaigners, who argue that it does not go far enough towards achieving marriage equality. The Campaign for Equal Marriage in the C of E has argued that the decision “falls short of what we ultimately believe is the only outcome for radical inclusion – equal marriage for all people”.
Despite the criticism, the Church of England’s decision has been hailed by some as a significant step towards greater inclusion and equality. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, said they hoped the decision marked a “new beginning” for the church.
The Church of England’s stance on homosexuality has been a long-standing and contentious issue, and the decision to permit priests to bless same-sex civil unions marks a significant shift in the church’s stance.
