From Walking With Integrity:
There was no room at the inn this afternoon for press in the House of Bishops. The reporter from the LA Times was the last one in and had to run around pleading for a chair until an extra one was brought up. Only the question of blessing same gender relationships could bring such excitement after the passage of D025.
....
So what are we left with –
1) local option – in other words each bishop can decide what is appropriate especially given the different legal situations. This has been the situation informally and unofficially but now it’s out in the open.
2) The collection and development of theological and liturgical resources.
This seems to reflect a sentiment mentioned several times by bishops over the past week, that we need to develop our theological ideas BEFORE we develop liturgies, not the other way round. It also provides some breathing space for the more conservative.
We’ll see what the Deputies do.
Read the final text and more at Integrity's website.
Prediction: In our diocese, Mimi, there will be no ordinations or blessings of people in same-sex partnerships.
ReplyDeleteArizona is the beneficiary of your bishop's intransigence against gays. We have the Rev. Nicholas Romans, whom your bishop refused to license. He is bar none the most articulate preacher I've heard in any Episcopal Church. He serves Transfiguration in Apache Junction, and I only wish I could get there more often. Last summer was his ordination silver jubilee, and Bp. Smith honored him by celebrating at his jubilee Holy Eucharist service. Quite a distinct variety of bishops we have!
ReplyDeleteBut I rejoice in the passage of C056 by the HOB. What a long way we have come as the body of Christ.
I also remember that Bp. Jenkins has been a God-send in the Gulf Coast's recovery from Katrina. His work is legendary. So God gives us--quite often--what we need, not necessarily what we want.
Ormonde, I'm sad to say that you are very likely correct.
ReplyDeletePat, our loss is your gain. Maybe one day. For now, I'm pleased that Bp. Jenkins seems firmly anchored in the Episcopal Church. I hope that will be true of the next bishop that we choose. That's one of my main concerns, because if we elect a bishop who takes the diocese out of TEC, then I will be out of the diocese.
Bishop Jenkins has done great work since Katrina, and I believe that he will continue his good work after his retirement.