The ruling body of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has rejected proposals for special prayers to be developed for same-sex couples in the church.
A motion proposed by representatives of the Diocese of False Bay, which is centred on Somerset West in the Western Cape, proposed that “m embers of our church who are in committed same sex unions be prayed for within ACSA”.
Quoting an appeal by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba for the church to be inclusive of all members, it urged that further work should be done on how to achieve this.
The motion was narrowly rejected on Wednesday, by 78 votes to 71, with 10 abstentions.
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A subsequent motion from the Diocese of Johannesburg, calling for a special service to be drawn up for the LGBTQIA+ community, was defeated more comprehensively, by 98 votes to 61, with 10 abstentions.
The motions were defeated despite an appeal by Archbishop Makgoba, the president of the synod, to include those marginalised by the church.
In a reference to blessings offered by the church for inanimate objects, or for people’s pets on St Francis Day, he pointed out that “ we pray for trees, we pray for cars, we pray for avocados!” (He grows avocados in Makgoba’s Kloof in Limpopo.)
The church’s Provincial Synod represents bishops, clergy and lay members from dioceses in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and St Helena.
The full text of the resolutions follows:
Provincial Synod voted against the following two motions during its final session on Tuesday September 23:
Resolution on the Inclusion of Parishioners in Same-Sex Unions in the Church
This Synod noting,
1. T hat Archbishop’s call for us to be mindful and intentional in terms of inclusion;
2. T hat during our Eucharist on Tuesday 21 September 2026, we were encouraged to deeply reflect on inclusivity and on the many among us still left out of the church ‘s embrace, especially the LGBTQIA+ community;
3. That t he report dealing with the ACSA Vision 2030, seeks to welcome all;
4. That pr evious decisions of exclusivity might have caused pain to many, especially those who have long sought inclusivity, recognition, pastoral care and theological reflection rooted in dignity and justice;
5. Grounded upon Matthew 18:18, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”, we believe the Church has both the authority and responsibility to discern and act justly in matters of conscience and pastoral care.
Resolves that:
1. Members of our church who are in committed same sex unions be prayed for within ACSA.
2. That a report be presented to the next Provincial Synod on how this ministry of inclusion is received.
Proposer: Dr Ashley Petersen, Diocese of False Bay
Seconded: The Rt Revd. Stafford Moses, Bishop of False Bay
The motion was lost with 78 Synod representatives voting against it, 71 for and 10 abstaining.
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MOTION ON AN ALTERNATIVE LITURGY
In light of the grave pastoral need within the LGBTQIA+ community and the vagueness of the motion presented from Synod’s floor, Synod resolves to compile a liturgy alternative to and distinct from the Marriage Liturgy, Thanksgiving for a Marriage, Reaffirmation of Vows, and Blessing of a Civil Union, (all of which are similar, and the last two of which invoke sentiments contained in the liturgy for the sacrament of Holy Matrimony) to serve the pastoral needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, so that there be no confusion between any prayers which might be offered in a pastoral capacity for members/ same-sex couples of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Proposer: The Revd Dr Matthew Wright, Diocese of Johannesburg
Seconded: Ms Tebogo Molefe, Diocese of Johannesburg
The motion was lost with 98 Synod representatives voting against it, 61 for and 10 abstaining.