9.00AM: Despite pressure from conservatives in the church, Anglican Bishop of Dunedin George Connor will tomorrow ordain an openly gay men, who will become a deacon of the church. Bishop Connor issued a statement that acknowledged the ordination of Juan Kinnear at St Paul's Cathedral was expected to be controversial. He described Mr Kinnear as being in a "committed same-sex relationship" and said he and the Dunedin diocesan council were satisfied that the ordination was consistent with the rules of the church and with the past practice of the diocese. "The bishop and diocesan council are aware that divergent views are held in the church about such ordinations, and that people of good will and deeply reasoned faith stand on both sides of the argument." Issues of sexuality evoked deep responses and were "currently a matter of debate in the worldwide Anglican communion and in this country and diocese", the statement said. "Bishop Connor and the Dunedin diocesan council rejoice at the beginning of these new ministries and pray that the new deacons be supported in their ministry." However, the statement also acknowledged "the pain of those who cannot agree with this decision". Christchurch clergyman the Rev Malcolm Falloon, a member of the conservative grouping Anglican Mainstream, said the ordination could split the church. The Anglican Church's attitude to homosexuals in the church came under the media spotlight in 2004, when newly-appointed Archbishop Whakahuihui Vercoe voiced his belief that homosexuality was unnatural and not morally right, and envisaged "a world without gays'. Ref: Otago Daily Times, GayNZ.com (m)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Friday, 3rd November 2006 - 12:00pm