To God be the glory for His mercy on us and blessings on those who continue to serve Him faithfully in the Church.
It is now in the public domain that the Anglican Church of Canada attempted to change the Holy Scriptures in a historic vote that took place at the General synod of the Church held on Friday July 12, 2019 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre in Vancouver, BC.
Essentially the motion and the vote is to finally change the Canons of the national church on marriage as not an exclusive heterosexual relationship.
This is a sad and pathetic move. We know many dioceses of the Anglican Church of Canada already follow this drift and continue to allow same sex marriage within their dioceses. We state clearly that this move is contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures and many Anglican faithfuls around the world are grieved at the slide.
We are however grateful to God that the motion at the General synod was defeated, though narrowly.
A change to the Canons of the Anglican Church of Canada requires a two- thirds majority from the three houses of Synod, (Clergy, Laity and Bishop). Instructively but sad is that a greater percentage of the required 2/3 majority was received from the houses of Clergy and Laity while the House of Bishops only had about 62% . Altogether, this implies and confirm the defeat of the motion but that about 59 bishops voted against the motion and the remaining voted in support is a dangerous close margin.
We thank God the historical formularies of the Church is sustained on this matter. We also give thanks to God for the faithfuls in Christ who voted against. Majority of the Anglican Provinces in the Anglican world are against the change of the Canons to redefine marriage and believe firmly such redefinition have no basis in the Scriptures.
We at the Anglican Diocese of the Trinity (Canada Region) in the Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) align ourselves with the Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (GAFCON) and call on the Anglican Church of Canada to return fully to the Scriptures. Marriage as defined by the Scripture is for ‘one man and woman’ . We call on the Bishops, Laity and Clergy of the Anglican Church of Canada to return to the Scriptures. We ask that they align themselves with the Faithful Anglicans around the world in defending marriage as purely heterosexual relationship. We call on Dioceses that already accept this relationship to reverse this course. We encourage the Faithful in Christ to stand firm against any agenda to change the Scriptural definition of marriage. Above all we encourage the world to continue to pray that God’s people will remain faithful to the Word of God. The Scripture is our guide and foundation:
“Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2:19
May the blessings of God remain on all the faithful in Christ. Amen
Rt Rev Olukayode (Kay) Adebogun
Anglican Diocese of the Trinity
(Canada Region).
Convocation of Anglicans in North America (CANA) – A missionn of the Church of Nigeria in Canada