A review of A Way Forward

Mar 21, 2016 by

…the report of the Working Group of the Church of Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

By M B Davie:

This review is in four parts.

Part I (pp.1-2) explains the purpose of the report.

Part II (pp. 2- 22) gives an overview of the contents of the report and the arguments it puts forward for permitting the blessing of same-sex civil marriages. It also gives the text of the proposed liturgies for blessing same-sex and opposite sex civil marriages.

Part III (pp.22-27 ) notes eight problems with the report:

  • It gives an inadequate account of unity and diversity;
  • It gives an inadequate account of doctrinal development;
  • It fails to give a convincing theological justification for the blessing of same-sex relationships;
  • It ignores the consistent witness of the Bible and Christian Church against same-sex sexual activity;
  • It fails to show why ordaining those in same-sex civil marriages would not lower the standard for ordination;
  • It fails to show that what is proposed does not involve a change in doctrine;
  • It ignores the teaching of the Anglican Communion and the impact of what is proposed on links with other Anglican churches and wider ecumenical relationships;
  • It opens the door theologically to the blessing of polygamous and incestuous relationships.

Part IV (p.27) notes the significance of the report for the wider Anglican debate about same-sex relationships arguing that that it indicates a path that other Anglican churches should not follow.

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