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ACNA Archbishop Foley Beach Nixes Same-Sex Marriage Blessings
Heterosexial Marriage or celibacy only options, he says
To all the Clergy and Members of the Anglican Diocese of the South:
Grace and peace to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
As you know by now the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that gay and lesbian people have a right to get "married" in every State of the Union. When the opinion was released, the bishops of the Anglican Church in North America were gathered in Vancouver for our College of Bishops Meeting. We have released a statement, a Litany for prayer in our churches, and a resource for you entitled, "Bearing Witness to Holy Matrimony." I hope you will read, study, and use all three in your congregations. You can find them in one place here.
Earlier this week, I said the following in my Provincial Address regarding this issue:http://tinyurl.com/nmyql4t
This Church will continue to honor the Biblical definition of marriage as between a man and woman. The clergy of this church are not allowed by our Constitution and Canons to perform same-sex unions or bless same-sex marriages. Individuals with same-sex attraction are welcome in all our churches; I have met many from around the Province who do attend our congregations. But we expect them to practice the same sexual ethic as we ask all our other members - the Biblical mandate of abstaining from sex unless it is in the context of marriage - marriage between a man and woman.
As the ramifications of the ruling begins to make it way to the various States, we will keep you updated on how it affects your congregation.
Please be courteous, gracious, and Christ-honoring in your social media or press statements. And lastly, let us continue to pray for the United States of America.
Your brother in Christ,
Foley Beach
Bishop/Archbishop
