In a Canadian first, clergy in six Anglican parishes in British Columbia have been cleared to use a special rite to bless same-sex unions, a landmark development in a dispute that has rocked the world Anglican Church.
Bishop Michael Ingham, head of the Diocese of New Westminster representing 25,000 worshippers across Vancouver and southwestern British Columbia, yesterday announced his approval for a rite and said details of the procedure would imminently be released.
Bishop Ingham is believed to be the first Anglican bishop in the world to formally approve such blessings, although some U.S. bishops have informally allowed such ceremonies.
The diocese's commitment to the issue last year prompted eight of 80 parishes to break away, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the Church's spiritual leader, to suggest that support by the diocese for such blessings was a ''departure from the main thrust of Anglican moral tradition.''
But Bishop Ingham yesterday said his decision was just.
''The Church recognizes that homosexual couples face the same challenges and share the same responsibilities as other people living out the costly demands of love,'' he said in a letter to the six parishes that have requested the rite.
''Our purpose is to encourage and strengthen fidelity and mutual supportiveness in family life on which the stability of our wider society depends.''
Bishop Ingham said the rite is not a marriage ceremony. ''[It is] a blessing of permanent and faithful commitments between persons of the same sex in order that they may have the support and encouragement of the Church in their lives together under God.''
He said couples must receive ''preparation and instruction'' to seek the blessing, and be sustained and supported by the parish.
The synod -- or governing body -- for the diocese approved the idea last June. However, Bishop Ingham's announcement yesterday actually sets the stage for ceremonies to occur at six parishes that have requested permission to proceed.
The plan was swiftly condemned by critics within British Columbia's Anglican community.
''The love of Jesus extends to all people, regardless of sexual orientation, and there is no disagreement that the Christian Church needs a loving and gracious response to gays and lesbians in our midst,'' said a statement from the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, which has criticized the stand for same-sex blessings.
''But the response of this diocese is a radical and unilateral departure from the teaching of Scripture and the mind of the Anglican Church. A diocese does not have the mandate to raise itself above the spiritual unity of the Anglican Communion and the authority of Scripture on which it is based.''
The issue is likely to emerge at the synod's annual meeting, which begins tomorrow. Two motions are already on the agenda, expressing concerns about same-sex issues, posed by rectors from conservative parishes within the diocese.
One seeks support to request that Bishop Ingham postpone implementation of the same-sex union plan until a discussion of the issue in 2004 by the general synod.
The other seeks support for a recognition that the synod acknowledges the need to help gay and transgendered people ''living in turmoil'' due to a lifestyle contrary to biblical teaching who are seeking to change their lifestyle.
The diocese's plan comes a day after the senior archbishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion issued a unanimous pastoral letter stating their opposition to the blessing of same-sex unions.
Neale Adams, spokesman for Bishop Ingham, said the timing was coincidental. The announcement was sent out to the priests of the diocese on Friday so they could be prepared when the public announcement was made.
The 1998 Lambeth Conference passed a resolution forbidding the blessing of same-sex unions.
The following parishes have been authorized to use the rite: St. Margaret's, St. Mark's, St. Paul's and Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver; St. Agnes in North Vancouver and St. Laurence in Coquitlam, east of central Vancouver.
The six parishes, said Bishop Ingham, have requested the blessings. It will be up to parish priests to schedule the rites.