Media statement from Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews
For Immediate Release
Please attribute all comments to Bishop Victoria Matthews
“On behalf of the Diocese of Christchurch I would like to announce that our Diocesan Synod supports the adoption of the
recommendations in the Motion 29 Working Group Final Report. These recommendations concern permission for the blessing
of same sex relationships to take place in some churches in this province. It does not at this time make a decision for
Christchurch Diocese.
“This is step one in a two-part process: the next step is to take our Diocesan clerical and lay representatives to
participate in General Synod’s consideration of the matter, informed by the decision we have made today.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the people on the Working Group, the authors of the Final Report. We asked them
to find a way a collective of people who held different beliefs might move forward in unity, and they have come up with
possible solutions. However, as always, this is a conscience vote and General Synod will now consider the report
carefully before any recommendations are decided.
“I would also like to thank our Clergy and Diocesan Synod representatives who have put in so much work to get to this
stage. Their faithfulness is gratefully received.
“But most importantly, I want to thank the members of the Diocese that bravely got up and spoke about issues that are
deeply personal and usually private—I want to assure them that their voices have been heard.
“I look forward to General Synod in May.”
-Ends-