Test Run

If the General Synod fails to approve Gay Marriage:

1. I move that Most Holy United ignore this decision.
1. There is no route to agreement through scripture
1. We must look elsewhere
2. Gay people are marginalized, and subjected to violence, and have a current need for help
1. 2016: 50 people killed in a nightclub for being gay
2. 2015-2016 Hate crimes related to sexual orientation in Edmonton jumped from 8% of cases to 25%
3. 2013: Scott Jones, stabbed for being gay, left paralyzed
4. 2012: Marie Lapuz, stabbed to death
5. 2010: A gay couple to scared to share their names had their home firebombed
6. 2009: Richard Dowery, beaten for being gay, left brain damaged
7. 2008: Anji Dimitriou and Janue Currie, beaten in front of their children for being gay
3. Our silence on this matter will be construed by others as approval. 
1. A pastor: " “50 less pedophiles in this world.”, and " we’re supposed to be sad because a bunch of perverts in a gay bar are killed.", 
2. A different pastor "“shouldn’t be mourning the death of 50 sodomites.”and " The tragedy is — I’m kind of upset that he didn’t finish the job!”"
3. We will be lumped in with those who endorse the attacks above.
4. Imagine if you took a picture of all the people who think gay people are different from everyone else. Anglicans would be in the same picture as the attackers above.
5. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, we would not be the Samaritan, or even the churchy people who pass by... people would think that the followers of Jesus are the brigands.
4. But what about fracturing the church?
1. Imagine a puzzle piece that is blue and pink. I want it to be pink, so I cut it in half, and voila, I have a puzzle piece that is all pink, and one that is all blue. They still fit into the puzzle, and the puzzle picture is still beautiful
5. We baptize gay people, we confirm them,why would we not marry them?