Anglicans fail to resolve same-sex split

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, June 11 (UPI) -- The Anglican Church of Canada has failed to settle the issue of same-sex marriages that has troubled the church for years, observers say.

At its General Synod, a meeting of clergy and lay leadership, the church resolved to "engage in theological and scriptural study of human sexuality" and to include the "voices of gays and lesbians" in those dialogs, but ultimately failed to come to a "legislative decision" on the issue of same-sex unions, Canwest News Service reported Friday.

At a national gathering in Winnipeg in 2007, the divided church decided not to give individual dioceses the power to decide for themselves if priests should be allowed to bless same-sex unions, Canwest said.

"For many members of General Synod, there is a deep sadness that, at this time, there is no common mind," the 2010 Synod said in a statement. "We acknowledge the pain that our diversity in this matter causes."

Though the church was unable to reach a consensus, Archdeacon Paul Feheley said, the debate was respectful and the tone less hostile than in years past.

"We didn't all agree," Fehely said, "but we're able to recognize diversity in our case as a strength and we can live with each other's differences.

"That's pretty important, in terms of a way forward."