Better late than never.
The congregation at VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Christ Church Cathedral voted overwhelmingly last week to allow same-sex blessings in the church, more than a decade after Vancouver-area Anglican churches did the same.
B次元官网网址淭he Anglican church has been talking about this for more than 30 years,B次元官网网址� Rev. Logan McMenamie says.
B次元官网网址淚n some ways itB次元官网网址檚 disabled us, but itB次元官网网址檚 an important decision. ItB次元官网网址檚 really a justice issue.B次元官网网址�
The 148-14 vote in favour of the blessings means gay couples can now hold such ceremonies inside Christ Church Cathedral, although McMenamie still cannot conduct the legal portion of same-sex ceremonies.
B次元官网网址淭he vote was a formal recognition that we are welcome and we are equal,B次元官网网址� says parish member Kit Pearson, who along with her partner, Katherine Farris, has been attending the church for five years.
B次元官网网址淥f course, itB次元官网网址檚 not absolutely equal because we canB次元官网网址檛 get married. ... ItB次元官网网址檚 just a step along the way.B次元官网网址�
Pearson, 66, says she and Farris have never experienced prejudice under the cathedralB次元官网网址檚 roof.
They have chosen to remain a part of the Anglican church despite its delayed embrace of homosexual equality.
B次元官网网址淚 think a church, like any other institution, is run by humans, and humans have many faults,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淵ou could be married in the hall by a justice of the peace, then go into the church and have your marriage blessed, which is a little ridiculous.B次元官网网址�
McMenamie laments the parish members he has lost because of the slow changes, but said more progress will be made at upcoming diocese gatherings.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e now one of six dioceses in Canada that permits same-sex blessings,B次元官网网址� he says.
James Cowan, the outgoing bishop of the Anglican Diocese of B.C., formally authorized same-sex blessings in January.
Cowan oversees parishes on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, while the Anglican diocese for Vancouver-area parishes was the first in Canada to allow same-sex blessings in 2002.
B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a very good thing for the church,B次元官网网址� McMenamie said. B次元官网网址淲e want to stay together, learn together, grow together.B次元官网网址�
dpalmer@vicnews.com
