General Synod Monday approved a statement from the House of Bishops urging the church to show pastoral understanding and sensitivity to all same-sex couples, including those civilly married.
The statement also commits the House to develop pastoral strategies to give effect to the acceptance of gays and lesbians to whom “we are already committed by previous General Synod and Council of General Synod resolutions, House of Bishops guidelines and Lambeth Conference statements.”
Bishop Patrick Yu of Toronto, one of the authors of the statement, said the question now is “how do we move forward in a situation of no consensus. We bishops represent a diverse group,” he said. “It’s a fragile situation.”
On Sunday, a motion to authorize the blessing of committed same-sex unions was passed by laity and clergy but defeated in the House of Bishops.