The ruling body of the Anglican Church will next weekend vote on proposals covering the blessing of same-sex civil unions and ordination of gay priests. More than 150 delegates will attend the General Synod of the Anglican Church in New Zealand and Polynesia in Nadi, Fiji, from 7 July. The diocese of Waiapu, which covers Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, has put forward a proposal for dioceses which wish to be able to bless same-sex unions to be able to do so, and for gay priests to be ordained. "The Diocese of Waiapu strongly believes that sexual orientation should present no barrier to ordination," the Motion says. Auckland vicar Glynn Cardy from St Matthew-in-the-City has asked the Synod to support parishes debating the nature of marriage and how it should be applied to same-sex relationships. It comes as a "Gender Commission" of prominent New Zealanders has been set up by the Church designed to "lead it out of the impasse over questions about the ordination and blessing of folk who are in same gender relationships". The Commission is led by former Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand, and includes High Court Judge Justice Judith Potter, educationalist Sir Tamati Reedy, the head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Otago University Professor Paul Trebilco, and Tongan New Zealand lawyer and advocate Mele Taliai. It's due to report back to the General Synod in 2014, summarising the Biblical and theological work done by the Church over 30 years, and offering a full set of options and their implications. You can discuss this gay New Zealand community news story in the GayNZ.com Forum here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 30th June 2012 - 3:05pm