It’s nice when people agree with you. Especially on sensitive issues! Especially when you are a retired Anglican minister and you want your church to remain faithful to the revealed will of God in the Scriptures! I was going to title this blog (with tongue in cheek) as “The Anglican Church of Australia agrees with me! It must be right! About same-sex marriage.” However not every one has the same sense of humour. Some might have thought that I was prideful in seeming to suggest that my opinion was the only correct opinion. But it was encouraging to read this decision of the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia at its meeting last week at Noosa in Queensland.

In previous articles on this blogsite I have written on the subject of so-called “same-sex marriage”. I found that the concept could not be based on the scriptures. The resolution of General Synod printed below uses the same argument I used from the words of Jesus in Matthew 19 verse 6. This was their resolution last week,

General Synod –
a) notes with regret that the Scottish Episcopal Church has
amended their Canon on Marriage to change the definition
that marriage is between a man and a woman by adding a
new section that allows clergy to solemnise marriage
between same-sex couples as well as couples of the
opposite sex;
b) notes with regret that this step is contrary to the doctrine of
our Church and the teaching of Christ that, in marriage, “a
man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and the two will become one flesh” (Matt 19:6), and
c) expresses our support for those Anglicans who have left or
will need to leave the Scottish Episcopal Church because of
its redefinition of marriage; and those who struggle and
remain and
d) prays that the Scottish Episcopal Church will return to the
doctrine of Christ in this matter and that impaired
relationships will be restored.

Though I was glad that sanity had prevailed,  that the words of Jesus were taken seriously and that the teaching of the Scriptures had been upheld, I was saddened a little to see the voting. It was as follows in terms of voting for this resolution.
House of Laity: 60 Yes; 45 No.  House of Clergy:68 Yes; 42 No.  House of Bishops: 12 Yes; 6 No

I would have preferred to read regarding the resolution of General Synod above, the numbers being recorded as Laity 105 Yes and Nil for No. Clergy 110 Yes and Nil for No.  Bishops 18 Yes and Nil for No. But I am very grateful that the Anglican church in Australia wants to honour Jesus in such decisions and not ignore His teaching as many churches have done in other parts of the world.

Christian love means siding with Jesus in what He says, and acting in loving ways towards everyone, seeking their best interests on every occasion. Their best interests are NOT served in encouraging people to act in ways that are not pleasing to God and contrary to His eternal purposes for humankind throughout the ages.

Blog No.238. Jim Holbeck. Posted on Sunday 10th September 2017.