A breakaway group of B.C. Anglican clergy is defending its decision to hold private talks on the divisive issue of blessing same-sex marriages.

Twelve conservative clergy from eight parishes, forming the Anglican Communion in New Westminster, met Sunday in Delta.

Discussing tenets of the Anglican faith without official church approval is unconventional, admits group spokesperson the Rev. Ed Hird. But the same can be said for blessing same-sex unions, he says.




"We're dealing with a crisis situation that requires a special response," says Hird.

The New Westminster diocese voted 63 per cent in June in favour of blessing such unions, becoming the first Anglican diocese in the world to formally recognize committed gay and lesbian relationships.




The parishes opposed to the decision now want a separate bishop who agrees with their demand to maintain the status quo.

The talks raised eyebrows not only because they violated church protocol, but also because they involved senior clergy from around the world.

Hird says the issue is not about homosexuality, but about faithfulness to the worldwide tenets of the Anglican religion.

"We don't believe that one diocese has the right to change all the rules, change the goalposts so to speak in terms of faith and practice."

Some Anglicans are angry with the weekend meetings because it's church tradition for the local bishop to approve visits by clergy.

The international leaders who came to the Vancouver area were not officially invited.

"It's a publicity stunt to gain sympathy and to give the appearance of international support," says retired Anglican priest Tom Anthony.

He calls the meetings "unprecedented intervention" by clergy who "have no authority, no responsibility, no possibility of doing anything creative."