Diocese of Montreal

[The Bishop's Office <bishops.office@montreal.anglican.ca>]

Months ago came your email asking about specific actions flowing from
section C of a Lambeth Resolution. I hope many of my colleagues have been
more timely than I am in responding.

I believe we were well ahead of many dioceses in that intentional listening
to stories, effective ministry with gay persons and public advocacy have
been part of our life since 1993. In that year I advocated for special
hearings in Montreal by the Human Rights Commission on the treatment of gay
persons in the City. I was the only church leader to appear before the
Commission, and offered a very public apology for the Church's treatment of
homosexual persons -- historically, and into the present.

The following year I encouraged parishes to participate in a national
programme entitled "Hearing Diverse Voices, Seeking Common Ground", and we
have an on-going Commission on Human Sexuality representative of a variety
of moral and theological perspectives. What began as a heated debate in the
Diocese has moved to a more civilized dialogue in which persons are accepted
and respected, even if there is no agreement on issues.

What accelerated my involvement in these issues was the murder of one of my
gay clergy in his bed at the Rectory, which, it was thought at the time,
might have been linked to the murder of 15 other gay persons in the city in
recent years. I continue to walk a fine line of assurance to the gay
community of God's love on the one hand while holding in the other the
guidelines of the Canadian House of Bishops which remain in effect.

Faithfully Yours,

+Andrew

The Right Reverend Andrew S. Hutchison
Bishop of Montreal