Homosexuality and the Anglican Communion

[18][19] In 2019, the Southern African Provincial Synod voted to recommend allowing each diocese to choose to offer services of prayer for couples in same-sex civil unions.

[20] Many provinces, primarily from the Global South and representing about half of the 80 million active Anglicans worldwide, have responded to these theological disputes by declaring a state of impaired communion with their Western counterparts.

As a result of the controversy over the ordination of gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions, on 15 October 2003, Anglican leaders from around the world met in Lambeth Palace in an attempt to avoid a schism on the issue.

The day after, they released a lengthy statement:[51] We must make clear that recent actions in New Westminster and in the Episcopal Church (USA) do not express the mind of our Communion as a whole, and these decisions jeopardise our sacramental fellowship with each other. [...]

We commend the report of that Conference in its entirety to all members of the Anglican Communion, valuing especially its emphasis on the need to listen to the experience of homosexual persons, and [...] to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptised, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ"; and its acknowledgement of the need for ongoing study on questions of human sexuality.In 2004, Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, wrote a letter to Anglican churches worldwide in which he condemned comments by bishops outside the Western world for inciting violence against gay men and women.

[104] Colin Fletcher, Acting Bishop of Oxford, gave permission for at least one same-sex celebration to be officiated by a Church of England priest who presided for the high-profile ceremony for Mpho Tutu and her partner.

[128] Some congregations and clergy, such as St John's Church in Waterloo in South London, have begun to invite same-sex couples to receive thanksgiving services for civil marriages.

[136] In 2015, John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, told a lay preacher, Jeremy Timm, that if he persisted with plans to marry his long-time partner, his licence to preach in Anglican churches would be revoked.

Timm announced his plans to be married in September 2015 and to leave the Church of England[137] and join "Contemplative Fire", a dispersed, diverse and inclusive group that is primarily Anglican.

[142] From 10 to 12 July 2016, following the prorogation of the meeting of the General Synod, most "members met in an informal setting in which they listened and were heard as they reflected together on scripture and a changing culture in relation to their understanding of human sexuality".

[158] In November, 2016, William Nye, the Secretary General of the Archbishop's Council, confirmed the following:[2] On 15 January 2017, Rachel Treweek, Bishop of Gloucester, presided over an "LGBT Eucharist" sponsored by Inclusive Church.

For example, at General Synod 2005, Dean Michael Burrows (now a bishop) stated that he regularly gives Holy Communion to same-sex attracted parishioners in long-standing relationships.

"[205] The General Synod in 2012 made provision for a Working Group on Human Sexuality to be created, to encourage and monitor Conversations at parochial and diocesan level, and between dioceses of different perspectives.

[224] The liberal wing wanting change noted that "the statement allows for autonomy at a diocesan and parish level, for prayer and pastoral celebration with LGBT+ couples who have married, although this is not by means of solemnization, formal blessing or specifically sanctioned liturgy.

[256] In 2015, St Mark's Cathedral in Bangalore, a congregation of the CSI, hosted a forum on preventing homophobia, and Vincent Rajkumar, a presbyter, advocated for the support of gay rights.

[257] CSI clergy, under the National Council of Churches in India, co-held a conference working against homophobia in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2014 featuring a rainbow flag and with speakers in favour of same-sex couples.

(Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) The Province of South East Asia criticised the confirmation of Gene Robinson as a bishop by the Episcopal Church (USA), stating:

"The said confirmation therefore seriously raises the question of ECUSA's genuine commitment to our corporate responsibility as members of the church catholic to uphold and promote only the Apostolic Faith and Order inherited.

In the context of orthodox and classical Christianity, the canonical authority of the Scriptures is taken to be recognized and received by the community of faith and not subject to majority, culturally relevant or even theological voting.

[270] Prior to official blessings, the church said that "clergy should be permitted 'to recognise in public worship' a same-gender civil union or state marriage of members of their faith community.

The Dunedin and Auckland dioceses are notable for other such examples, including the ordination of a non-celibate gay clergy and the blessings of same-sex relationships performed by priests in an official capacity.

[302] In 2011, the Diocese of Adelaide elected a new assistant bishop, Tim Harris, and he supported allowing LGBT clergy if they agreed to be celibate, but, at the same time, he expressed that he is open to conversation about change.

[324] A series of judicial rulings beginning in 2003 legalised same-sex marriage in the majority of Canada's provinces, and on 20 July 2005, the Canadian government extended the new definition nationwide by statute.

[324] In 2013, ten Anglican dioceses (Edmonton, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Rupert's Land, Ottawa, Vancouver-based New Westminster, Toronto, London-based Huron, Hamilton-based Niagara, Montreal, and Victoria-based British Columbia) allow the blessing and marriage of same-sex couples.

[333] In 2003, ECUSA became the first Anglican province to ordain an openly gay priest in a same-sex relationship as a bishop; however, the Episcopal Church's stance on LGBTQ matters had been debated for decades.

[335] Various interpretations were held within the Episcopal Church on this resolution, ranging from the majority of dioceses that now ordain non-celibate gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender clergy to the minority group who founded the Anglican Communion Network which currently opposes such ordinations.

"[397] Makgoba and his working group on human sexuality have proposed a motion "… to amend Canon 34 which will enable ministry to those in Same Sex Unions and the LGBTI Community in the context in which ACSA operates in Southern Africa".

[406] Additionally, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa does not have an official policy regarding the ordination of openly gay or lesbian clergy and, thus, some may identify as LGBT depending on their diocese.

'"[411] The resolution also said that it is "Affirming a pastoral response to same-sex partnerships of faithful commitment in our parish families;"[410] Also in 2009, Makgoba said that "[g]ays and lesbians can be leaders within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa as long as they remain celibate, its synod of bishops has declared.

"[412] In 2013, the Provincial Synod adopted a resolution that "urged its bishops to provide guidelines for giving pastoral care to same-sex couples who have entered civil unions under South African law".