From The Lead:
The General Convention of the Episcopal Church has passed a resolution on same-sex blessings. The House of Bishops approved the legislation by a margin of more than 3-1 yesterday. tin of more than 3-1 yesterday. The House of Deputies passed the legislation by a slightly smaller margin today.
The lay order voted in favor of Resolution C056 by 78-23 with seven divided deputations. The clergy passed the legislation 74-27-7.
Thurgood Marshall has now been added to the Episcopal Church calendar.
UPDATE: Press release from Integrity:
It is a great day for the church and a greater day for the witness to God’s inclusive love.
"While Integrity’s advocacy work is not yet done," said Integrity President Susan Russell, "the actions here in Anaheim liberate us to get on with our evangelism work--proclaiming the good news of an Episcopal Church that welcomes not only LGBT people looking for a spiritual home but ALL those seeking a faith community that shares their core values of justice, compassion, inclusion, and love."
"We celebrate this historic movement forward and we commit ourselves to this church we love and serve to continue to witness to the good news of Christ Jesus present in our lives, our vocations, and our relationships. We call others to 'come and see' what we have found and seen and experienced in the Episcopal Church."
Discussed at FoJ--this is important, but still a small move.
ReplyDeleteThe Integrity blog explains,
What that actually means will vary from diocese to diocese, depending on how the Bishop discerns the needs of the people and the movement of the Spirit. In some places it’ll mean church weddings, in others something very private and discreet, and in some places there will be nothing at all.
IT, that's exactly how I understand the resolution. The bishops who want same-sex blessings in their dioceses will have a freer hand, and they may differ in their ideas of how the blessings are to be done.
ReplyDeleteThose bishops who do not want same-sex blessings in their dioceses will not be forced to do them. It gives the conservative bishops leeway for now.
I see this as an experimental period, from which forms of liturgies which are generally acceptable to a wide group will arise from the different practices in different dioceses.
The resolution is not all we would want, but I believe that it is a good compromise and demonstrates progress toward full equality.
I agree--it's important progress--not least for the message it sends outside TEC.
ReplyDeleteBut it's not the end of the journey, by a long shot.
It will be nice when we have some uniformity. I did one blessing while in California and had to borrow material from others who had done them, and then adapt it to the couple. The only advice from my bishop was make sure it's not like the marriage ceremony and make sure the Vestry and congregation don't object.
ReplyDeleteAmelia, from your standpoint, I see why you would want that. Perhaps, your diocese will have suggestions for liturgies that are less vague rather quickly now that D025 has passed.
ReplyDeleteO/T but Fr Terry has a sad announcement at his blog....
ReplyDeleteIT, I'm so sorry to hear that. I left word over at his blog. He was so enthusiastic about what was happening at the convention.
ReplyDeleteProgress is being made, now if only more of the individual states will catch up.
ReplyDeleteI must admit the Episcopal/Anglican Church does have an odd collection of saints. I'm still trying to comprehend Elizabeth Fry (who, as far as I know, was not an Anglican and never baptized).
I note that Bishop Gene Robinson according to his blog seems to have come down with a nasty bug though apparently well enough now to blog. I'm not sure of the wisdom of him flying home tomorrow (partly for his sake[1] and partly for his fellow passengers if he is infectious[2]).
[1] My mother once flew home with a high fever and ended up in hospital.
[2] High fever can be a symptom of flu and there is a fair bit of that going around.