Rev. Helen Jacobi, Vicar of the Auckland Anglican Church St Matthew-in-the-City says the Church supports the Episcopal Church who were sanctioned by the Anglican Communion for their support of same-sex marriage. Helen Jacobi St Matthew-in-the-City openly supports the LGBTI community and the Vicar says, “We are deeply saddened by this move and stand with the Episcopal Church and all those in the LGBTI community who continue to be excluded from churches around the world.” She says she believes the decision was made in a desperate attempt to keep the Anglican Communion together and to stop many of the more conservative provinces from leaving the Communion. “They put unity of the church ahead of justice for those excluded.” Jacobi says the Anglican clergy are currently unable to perform same-sex ceremonies in New Zealand. “The Anglican Church in New Zealand is still in the process of deliberating and trying to find a way to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples in some churches while allowing those who disagree to stay in the same church - the same process we have seen play out internationally.” “We do however arrange for clergy of other denominations to come in if needed,” she says. “We have not been asked in a while to organise this. I am aware though of couples from within the church waiting until the day their Anglican clergy can marry them.” The General Synod in May will be next opportunity for progress on New Zealand’s same-sex debate within the Church. St Matthew-in-the-City has publicly shown its support of the Episcopal Church on their social media pages, saying Facebook, “The church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia needs to stand with the Episcopal Church and walk away from association with the oppressive voices who would deny the humanity of LGBTI people. This is the Gospel imperative - love not institutional ‘unity’."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 19th January 2016 - 9:21pm