Welcome to Integrity Canada!

Integrity Canada is a national network of local Integrity chapters, members, and friends working toward the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in the life and ministry of the Anglican Church of Canada. Learn more about us here.

The tabs to the left will help you explore some helpful resources: Sexual Orientation 101, personal testimonies of LGBT Christians, study aids for your biblical and theological reflection, plus contact information for Integrity chapters across the country. Below you'll find recent Integrity Canada news and links to our newsletter, Integrator.

For more information, or if you'd like to speak to someone about a personal concern, please contact us. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, you're welcome here!

Integrity Canada news . . .

With this fall's Synods, blessings for same-sex couples now permitted (in some form) in 10 dioceses (New Westminster, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, Ottawa, British Columbia, Toronto, Edmonton, and Rupert's Land, and in the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior).

Nov.4, 2012 – Blessings in Diocese of Quebec.  The Synod of the Diocese of Quebec (one of five dioceses in the province) has voted to support Bishop Dennis Drainville’s plan “to provide both a rite of blessing and pastoral support for persons living in committed, same-gender relationships.”  In 2009 the parish of St. Michael, Sillery, just outside Quebec City, memorialized Synod indicating their readiness to offer blessings.  A working group will advise the bishop on implementation guidelines for the optional ministry.  http://quebec.anglican.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Quebec-Dec2012-Web.pdf

July 17, 2012 – Moratorium lifted in New Westminster.  In a letter to clergy Bishop Michael Ingham announced he has lifted the 7-year old partial moratorium on same-sex blessings in the Diocese of New Westminster.  The decision follows a diocesan synod vote to end the self-imposed limitation that allowed blessings in only 8 parishes. The conscience clause for clergy remains, and priests may only use the Diocese’s designated same-sex blessing rite, but all parishes that so vote may now celebrate God’s blessing of civilly-married, same-sex couples.  http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/portals/0/repository/Bishopletteronsamesexblessingsjuly2012.pdf

Nov.1, 2012 Rupert’s Land also approves blessings. Bishop Don Phillips has given his concurrence to a vote of Diocesan Synod, which met in Winnipeg Oct.19-20, approving the blessing of same-sex civil marriages. Bishop's letter here and Anglican Journal story here.

Oct.15, 2012 Edmonton Synod approves civil marriage blessings for same-sex couples. The Synod of the Diocese of Edmonton has passed a motion "requesting that clergy members be allowed to ask the bishop for permission to ... bless the unions of same-sex couples." According to the Anglican Journal, previously a gay or lesbian couple could celebrate their civil marriage with a family Eucharist under guidelines developed by the House of Bishops, but the service did not formally acknowledge their marriage. Apparently clergy will be meeting soon to decide on a text for the new Edmonton rite.See the Anglican Journal story here.

May 28, 2011 - Same-sex blessings approved by Diocese of Nova Scotia and PEI. Bishop Sue Moxley is finalizing the guidelines. The diocese is the eighth in the Anglican Church of Canada to permit the blessing of same-sex civil marriage, though none allow their clergy to perform civil marriages or use the liturgy of Holy Matrimony for same-sex couples, as they do for straight couples. Same-sex blessings are now permitted –- with often significant restriction –- in the dioceses of New Westminster, Montreal, Niagara, Huron, Ottawa, British Columbia, and Toronto, and in the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior. See the Anglican Journal story here.

April 15, 2011 - State of Bishops’ Moratoria Unclear. The Canadian House of Bishops released a statement following their Apr.11-15 meetings that did not renew their earlier endorsement of moratoria on same-sex blessings. Integrity Canada has repeatedly called on the House of Bishops to lift the moratoria they proposed in 2004, intended, the bishops said, to allow General Synod opportunity to make a timely decision on the question. Following the ambiguous outcome of General Synod 2007, the House “held the line” on moratoria. A similar response was expected by some following GS2010. The status quo therefore appears to have been set by General Synod which last year refused to deny the authority of dioceses to exercise local option and recognized that many already had, in limited ways.

June 10, 2010 - Sexuality Discernment Statement. Seen by some as a “watershed and historical moment,” the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada chose not to make a legislative decision regarding same-sex blessings and instead approved an Affirmation of Sexuality Discernment. The statement indicates that the Synod recognizes that local option is being exercised by some dioceses but offers neither its support nor disapproval. The Anglican Journal quotes Archbishop Fred Hiltz as saying, “We’re not ready as a national church to say, ‘We’re building this into our doctrine that we approve of same-sex unions.’ ... We need to have more conversation.” The response of Integrity members to the statement has been mixed.

Older news items in the archive.

Our national newsletter, Integrator … Integrator Archives. Lots of good stuff to read.