SA bishops: Same-sex couples “full members” of church; no-change on marriage

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[Anglican Church of Southern Africa] Anglican bishops from across southern Africa have resolved that gay and lesbian partners who enter same-sex civil unions under South African law should be welcomed into congregations as full members of the church.
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In a pastoral letter issued to Anglicans today, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town said a document outlining guidelines on members living in same-sex unions would be sent to the church’s Provincial Synod, its ruling body, which meets later this year.
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He added: “I believe that its adoption by Provincial Synod would be an important first step in signalling to the LGBT community that we in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, through our top deliberative and legislative body, see them as welcome members of our body as sisters and brothers in Christ.”
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anglicannews.org/news/2016/02/sa-bishops-same-sex-couples-full-members-of-church-no-change-on-marriage.aspx
 
It would have been best if the title had included a note that these were Protestant bishops, otherwise the title may seem misleading.
 
Padres1969 said:
Interesting. Definitely doesn’t fit with the general feeling among the African churches of GAFCON that’s for sure.
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Interesting, maybe. Surprising, no. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa is the TEC of the continent.
 
GKC said:
Interesting, maybe. Surprising, no. The Anglican Church of Southern Africa is the TEC of the continent.
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Comparatively I won’t dispute that. I mean they’re abiding by the AC’s general consensus that is to hold off on blessing same sex unions in the church and allowing priests to enter SS unions unlike the Episcopal Church. But they have allowed SS couples about as much access to the church as would be allowed by the AC at this time without censure like the ECUSA received. And when compared to the GAFCON provinces to the north the Southern Africans are clearly more toward the ECUSA and ACinC side of the proverbial street.

Makes me wonder if there’d have been an uproar about this move by the Southern Africans if not for the ECUSA and ACinC’s recent actions which went further.
 
Padres1969 said:
Comparatively I won’t dispute that. I mean they’re abiding by the AC’s general consensus that is to hold off on blessing same sex unions in the church and allowing priests to enter SS unions unlike the Episcopal Church. But they have allowed SS couples about as much access to the church as would be allowed by the AC at this time without censure like the ECUSA received. And when compared to the GAFCON provinces to the north the Southern Africans are clearly more toward the ECUSA and ACinC side of the proverbial street.

Makes me wonder if there’d have been an uproar about this move by the Southern Africans if not for the ECUSA and ACinC’s recent actions which went further.
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I’d think so.
 
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