St John`s Rector Advocates
The Blessing of Same Sex Unions
Ottawa Synod 2002

Canon Garth Bulmer, rector of St John`s Church, will present a motion at the Synod of the Diocese of Ottawa on October 18, 2002 asking synod to permit the blessing of the committed relationships between persons of the same sex. The synod motion to be presented states, "Be it resolved that this synod of the Diocese of Ottawa ask the Bishop of Ottawa to authorize requesting parishes to bless same sex unions."

The Conscience Clause.

The motion, if acted upon by the bishop, would permit an "opting in" process for parishes which request permission for their clergy to officiate at the blessing of same sex unions. In fact, it is a motion, invoking what is sometimes referred to as the conscience clause that has been used in other church disagreements about discipline (like the ordination of women). It respects the consciences of those who cannot support same sex unions and it respects the consciences of those who cannot support the present official position of the Anglican Church of Canada which affirms persons of homosexual orientation but denies them the enjoyment of committed conjugal expression.

Same Sex Relationship a Blessing From God.

The centuries- old position of the Christian Church condemning homosexuality as a sin against God and nature has been questioned and discarded by a large segment of the population of Canada. Homosexuality has been de-criminalized for consenting adults. While no civil jurisdiction in Canada has yet to legalize same sex unions as "marriages" most have conceded the right of persons in such relationships to the rights and benefits accorded to heterosexual couples. While secular society moves on the church timidly avoids the issue as much as it can.

While no consensus has been reached within the Anglican Church of Canada on the "status" of homosexual relationships in the eyes of God there is clearly a large segment of the church who no longer accept the biblical interpretation used in the past to justify the condemnation and persecution which gay people have suffered at the hands of loving Christians.

St John`s Takes the Initiative in Welcoming Gay People into Full Participation.

The Church of St John the Evangelist in downtown Ottawa has worked hard over two decades to listen to the life stories of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons. Seven years ago the Parish Council declared the parish to be open to and affirming of gay people and their committed relationships in the same way as it is for heterosexual couples. Because of the centuries of discrimination and exclusion the parish has taken the initiative in welcoming gay individuals and couples into its fellowship. GLBT people are specifically welcomed at the beginning of services at St John`s and each year the principal Sunday morning liturgy is centred on the them during Gay Pride Week. Openly gay people are welcome to participate in whatever ministries in the parish that they think God is calling them to. Gay community groups use the facilities of St John`s Church including the Ottawa chapter of PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) which was founded by Diana and Denis Stimson, both members of St John`s Church.

We are all on the Same Spiritual Journey Regardless of our Sexual Orientation

People at St John`s have demonstrated a remarkable level of willingness to engage the issue and to take seriously the spiritual needs of gay people. Even persons who have reservations about various aspects of the welcoming strategies of the parish have been willing to admit that the Spirit of God may indeed, be asking the church to "do a new thing" with respect to the gay issue. The talking, listening, and discussing which has taken place in the parish has engaged gay and straight people alike who are willing to see beyond the issue of one another's sexual orientation to the our common goal as people seeking to be faithful to God.

Most of the people who have come to St John`s have come from churches that have rejected them or counselled them to pray harder for God to change their sexual orientation. While it would be foolish to suggest that God cannot do this, it is very clear to the gay people at St John`s that such a request is to deny the person whom they know themselves to be. Many gay people consider this kind of counselling as spiritual abuse.

Pastoral Support Needed

Because the official position of the church denies gay people the enjoyment of an intimate relationship it does little to support them pastorally. They may be invited to participate in parish life but to keep their sexual orientation to themselves. Because of the illogical prohibition on same sex intimate relationships the church provides no programs to help them deal with relationship issues. This fall St John`s will implement one of the rare ( maybe the only?) same sex couples preparation course in the country. The course, to be entitled Building Permanent Relationships, will be a five week course covering much of the same material covered in marriage preparation programs for heterosexual couples but with special emphasis upon the issues specific to same sex couples. Wanda Dillabaugh, St John`s Coordinator of Christian Education, will lead this course.

Same Sex Blessings

For a parish like St John`s the blessing of same sex unions, like the provision of spiritual and pastoral support, is a perfectly normal and predictable outcome of two decades of integrating and welcoming GLBT persons into our midst. Indeed, not to do so is an affront not only to them but to the whole parish.

July 11, 2002
The Rev Canon Garth Bulmer

You might also be interested in a sermon preached by The Rev Canon Garth Bulmer on 28 July 2002 in which he touches on the debate over the blessing of same-sex unions and how we read our Bible.