Anglicans in Canada are in the midst of discussion to clarify recent decisions on same-sex unions that many have found confusing.
While some bishops in the Anglican Church of Canada say that the church still does not permit same-sex blessings, others believe the decision may be left to a local church or diocese of priest.
The conflicting opinions are interpretations of the latest decision by the General Synod - the Anglican Church of Canada's highest governing body - to reject a resolution that would have allowed dioceses to decide for themselves whether or not to bless same-sex unions. Although the motion was defeated in June, the General Synod also agreed that same-sex blessings do not conflict with the "core doctrines" of the church.
Canadian Anglicans have called the two decisions confusing.
The Rev. Alan Perry, an expert on canon law from the Diocese of Montreal, said the motion that blessings are not in conflict with the church's core doctrine is a "declarative" but not an "enabling" motion, "which would contain some mechanism or permission to act in a certain way."
It does, however, "clear the decks for future action on blessing of same-sex unions by some body or other," he said, according to the Anglican Journal.
He further observed that the General Synod has not stated who, if anyone, has the authority to authorise the blessing of same-sex unions, noting that while the General Synod is granted jurisdiction over the definition of the doctrines of the church, the governing body does not have "exclusive control over any and all actions having to do with doctrine," said Perry, citing the church's Declaration of Principles.
