DWTX from Anaheim – After a one-day time out for reflection and conversation, the House of Bishops on Wednesday, July 15, passed a resolution that calls for the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to “collect and develop theological and liturgical resources” for the blessing of same-gender relationships but stopped short of authorizing an official rite.
The resolution also gives latitude for bishops, “particularly those in dioceses with civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal,” to provide “generous pastoral response” to meet the needs of the members of the Church.
The final vote for the resolution was 104 in favor, 30 opposed, with two abstentions. Both Bishop Lillibridge and Bishop Reed voted against it.
The resolution, C056, had come to the House of Bishops on Tuesday. But after some discussion, the bishops decided to postpone a final decision on the resolution until they could have some private discussions about it. Especially at issue was being conscious of the impact the resolution would have on “moderate” bishops who would not able to support it.
The pattern of this General Convention, both in the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, is a division of two-thirds in favor of moving forward on issues of human sexuality and one-third against.
Bishop Dean Wolfe of Kansas on Tuesday observed that “sometimes we give our brothers and sisters [those in the House of Bishops with a conservative or moderate leaning] very little room to operate so that those who would want to vote with us [more liberal bishops] cannot do so.”
About 26 bishops gathered informally on Tuesday evening to address this situation, and after candid discussion, on Wednesday presented to the House of Bishops a substitute resolution. The Tuesday evening discussion, said one bishop, “was characterized by a deep sense of holy listening and seeking after a better understanding of the contexts in which each of ministers.”
The substitute resolution acknowledges that legislation being passed in the United States and other nations concerning marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons “calls forth a renewed pastoral response from this church” and an “open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for blessing same-gender relationships.”
Some of the debate in the House of Bishops centered on the word “develop” in the phrase that asked the Standing Commission to “collect and develop” resources. Bishop Nathan Baxter of Central Pennsylvania said removing the word develop “makes it clear that we are not asking for formal work of design” of liturgies.
However, an amendment to remove the word failed.
Bishop Steven Miller of Milwaukee said the word was used in the architectural sense – “Here is what it would be like” if the Church decided to move forward with liturgies.
The resolution invites participation from “provinces, diocese, congregations, and individuals” and encourages members of the Church to engage in this effort and invites “theological reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion.”
– Marjorie George
Communication Officer
Tags: same-gender blessing