Walking back B033, revised resolution D025 clears committee
A revised version of Resolution D025 has cleared the Committee on World Mission with the unanimous support of the deputies. Two of the five bishops on the committee, including bishops' chair Geralyn Wolf, voted in favor of the resolution.
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church in the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it furtherResolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks, and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention, reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons”, as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God” (2000-D039); and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of these relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it furtherResolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitutions and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church, as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience, disagree about some of these matters.
Why, it's so balanced you'd think it was resting on a three-legged stool.
Posted by Josh Thomas![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 11, 2009 7:10 PM
The fact that Bishop Wolfe voted for this is important. Moderate to liberal catholic swing votes like hers will be necessary if this is to win support in the HOB. I assume that we may also see versions of the other resolutions regarding B033 come to the floor, or, if the committee recommends discharging them, the HOD might vote against this recommendation and take them up anyway?
I think that getting D025 passed in this form in both houses would be a major victory. I would like to see stronger language about repentance for the sins against our LGBT sisters and brothers embodied by B033 and a reaffirmation of the HOD rules of order as well as the nondiscrimination canons of this church. But the important thing is to pass something that can move us forward. Moderate is better here. No need to antagonize the opposition or give them something to mobilize around. I would hope that there would be some able leaders on the floor to keep that from happening. My strategy would be bifurcated: keep D025 close to its present, mininmalist form and let more principled opposition be expressed by means of another resolution which the HOB could vote down.
That said, a common sense amendment to the sixth resolve would add language about celebrating the ministries of baptized LGBT persons among us, including those called to Holy Orders. Recognizing might not be strong enough.
Posted by Bill Carroll![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 11, 2009 9:25 PM
I am less than happy with the way this statement singles out same-sex couples as if we were some novelty the church has just discovered. I would have been happier with a general statement that the legal sex of a spouse is morally neutral. Equal rights/rites for LGBTS, be they coupled or single, would be a more general principle. Homophobia is the real problem rather than what to do with LGBT Christians, coupled and single.
Equal protection is what I would have wanted but I don't know what the right approach is for a General Convention of the Episcopal Church. Language which romanticizes same-sex couples makes me uncomfortable because it seems the flip side of homophobia.
A denunciation of double standards would have included more people. Single lesbians and gays who are told by their bishops they must be celibate in order to get ordained, for example, as well as couples who are told they do not exist because they are both of the same legal sex would have been covered.
This is a human rights issue. The dignity and infinite worth of the individual person could have been affirmed.
Gary Paul Gilbert
Posted by garydasein![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 12, 2009 12:52 PM
Bill Carroll is right. It's a big deal that the Bishop of Rhode Island has support this. She is not one of the usual liberal suspects.
For the record, her last name is Wolf. Bishop Wolfe is the Bishop of Kansas.
Pax,
Scott+
Posted by Scott Gunn![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.episcopalcafe.com/lead/nav-commenters.gif)
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July 13, 2009 2:39 AM