AFFIRM
Anglicans for Faith Intercession Renewal and Mission
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Petiton 1
<b>SAME GENDER BLESSINGS</b> Introduction This appeal to you for your support comes because the Working Group appointed by General Synod 2014 to consider what the way forward on the question of same gender blessings was scheduled to report in this month,October. However,it has deferred reporting until shortly before General Synod 2016. That means that its report,whatever it states on this controversial proposal, will not be seen by ordinary Anglicans, and will not be debated in diocesan synods before General Synod decides what to do. This is alarming and hardly fair to the many people who feel they have not had a chance to make their views known. We are therefore giving you that chance now. If you agree with the statement next to this please indicate your agreement by signing it and returning it to the clergyperson or whoever sent it to you. You probably have the text of Motion 30. Clause 4 is the centre of our concern.It authorises the recognition (whatever exactly that would involve) of same gender relationships with the approval of both a particular parish and the diocesan bishop. But that would mean approving such relationships--and the intimate sexual behaviour they usually involve. It would not be long, we andmany others think, before blessings were conducted in many parishes. And if that happened the trend would have become clear and same-gender marriage ceremonies would not be long in following-despite the affirmation of the traditional view om marriage in the opening part of Motion 30. Uppermost in the minds of many Anglicans (none of them having been consulted in any way by the Working Group) is the paramount need to preserve the Church's long held stance on the importance of Christian marriage-for the individuals concerned, for the right ordering of sexual relationships, and for the good of society generally. Along with that goes the need to observe the Constitution of our Church which requires all office holders to maintain its fundamental clauses which locate the ultimate authoritative source of doctrine about Anglican faith and practice in the Scriptures. With one voice they teach that homosexual acts(male-male or female-female) are wrong.At the same time we want to make it clear that we will welcome homosexual people into our fellowship,love them and worship with them. They are valued members of the Body of Christ just as much as heterosexual people. Please consider helping.The issues are of fundamental importance. The structural unity of the Church is under threat. Christian marriage is in danger of being undermined. Petition: I am a regular worshipper in an Anglican parish. I am deeply concerned by Motion 30 passed by the General Synod and by the fact that the Church is considering the blessing of same gender relationships. The Anglican Church has always stood for the ultimate authority of the scriptures. They plainly teach that homosexual acts are wrong. In my understanding the major branches of the Christian Church have always taught that. In my view it is not open to the Anglican church to approve what God disapproves.Even a “recognition” of a same-sex relationship during a worship service would constitute approval of that relationship.Such a relationship characteristically involves intimate sexual behaviour. Recognitions would in practice lead on to “blessings”. Blessings would pave the way for marriages. Our Church should not permit any departure from its long –held teaching clearly reflected in the NZ Prayer Book that marriage is between one man and one woman,and that sexual activity outside marriage is sinful. I do not want the Anglican Church to split over this issue. I commit myself to love and,if I have the opportunity, to help nurture those who are homosexually attracted.Gay people are made in God’s image and must be highly respected.If they into the fellowship of the Church ,or into one of our services, must be welcomed, but gay relationships,like adulterous relationships, should not be blessed.
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