Australia: Anglicans say "I don't" to marriage Canon changes

Tuesday, 21 Sep 2010
by Jane Still

Voting confusion dominated the final decision to oppose moves to change the requirements of marriage in the Anglican Church. Currently at least one member of a couple wishing ot marry in the Anglican church in Australia must be baptised. An amendment before the General Synod would have seen this requirement removed.

An unusual procedural move at the sitting of the church's national parliament saw the matter voted on twice, after a vote rejecting the amendment on Monday was thrown into doubt when some members of the House of Bishops were reportedly confused about voting procedure. Today the General Synod again rejected the amendment, this time in the House of Clergy.

The Provisional Canon to amend the Solemnization of Matrimony Canon 1981 was sent to all the Dioceses of the Anglican Church of Australia after the 2007 sitting of General Synod. The majority of dioceses around the country have since assented to the canon, a fact that Bishop Glenn Davies (Sydney) brought to the floor when urging the General Synod to give its final approval to the Canon. the rest