Election of gay bishop spurs complaint to Welby
By André Forget, Anglican Journal:
Three clergy in the diocese of Toronto have sent a letter to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to register dissent and request an “intervention” following the election of Canon Kevin Robertson, a gay man currently living with his partner, to the episcopate in September. Welby, however, has no jurisdiction in Canada; all 38 member churches of the Anglican Communion are autonomous.
The letter, signed by the Canon Murray Henderson (St. Matthew’s Riverdale), the Rev. Catherine Sider Hamilton (St. Matthew’s Riverdale) and Canon Dean Mercer (Anglican Church of St. Paul, L’Amoreaux) argues that the election was “irregular” and “out of order insofar as its slate included a candidate whose lifestyle is contrary to the teaching of the historic and universal church on chastity and marriage.”
They also claim that Robertson’s inclusion was “contrary to the present doctrine and discipline of the Anglican Church of Canada,” and that he was therefore “not duly qualified for the office of bishop.”
The letter adds that despite developments at this summer’s General Synod, where steps were taken to change Canon XXI (marriage in the church) to allow for the marriage of same-sex couples, the definition of “Christian marriage [as being] between one man and one woman,” still stands. Same-sex marriage will be brought to General Synod for final consideration in 2019.
When asked what he hoped the letter to Welby would accomplish, given the Archbishop of Canterbury has no formal authority outside of the Church of England, Mercer said he and his colleagues are simply looking for a second opinion.
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