Archbishop Justin Welby
Primates of the Anglican Communion, meeting at Canterbury, have sanctioned Scottish Episcopal Church following its decision in June to approve same-sex marriage.
A communiqué from the Anglican Communion office issued today said: “We listened carefully to the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) and with sadness accepted that the consequences for our relationships agreed in January 2016 would also apply to SEC after its decision on same sex marriage.
“This means that for three years, members of SEC would no longer represent the Communion on ecumenical and interfaith bodies; should not be appointed or elected to internal standing committees and that, while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they would not take part in decision making on any issues of doctrine or polity.
“The Archbishop of Canterbury will take steps within his authority to implement this agreement.”
The full text of the communiqué can be downloaded from this address: bit.ly/2y5udqd.
Background
The Episcopal Church in the USA (TEC) approved same-sex marriage in 2015. In 2016, the Communion suspended the American Church from Anglican committees, decision-making and ecumenical representation for three years and said that the same measures would apply in similar circumstances in the future.
In May 2016 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, confirmed to the then Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church that this would affect the SEC if it approved same-sex marriage. In October 2017, these sanctions have been duly applied.
Response
The Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, Bishop Mark Strange, was quoted in the press: “We will continue to play our part in the Anglican Communion we helped to establish, and I will do all I can to rebuild relationships, but that will be done from the position our Church has now reached in accordance with its synodical processes and in the belief that love means love.”
