Source:  Religious Intelligence

July 22, 2009

The Episcopal Church has given carte blanche to its liberal dioceses to create and celebrate rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.

On July 15 the House of Bishops meeting at the 76th General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., endorsed resolution C056, which called for an "open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships."

The resolution, which was adopted by the Convention's House of Deputies on July 17 permits dioceses and congregations to "collect and develop theological, and liturgical resources" for gay blessings and directs them to report on their work to the next meeting of General Convention in 2012.

The resolution also permits Bishops in states where gay marriage or same-sex civil unions are lawful to authorize same-sex rites by providing "generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church."

The resolution has the effect of maintaining the legal status quo on gay marriage in the Episcopal Church, as it does not add same-sex blessings to the Book of Common Prayer or alter its rubrics by changing the language of man and women in the marriage ceremony to man/man or woman/woman. However, it does remove any impediment or disciplinary sanction for violating Prayer Book rubrics by authorising the introduction of supplemental rites authorised on the diocesan level for trial use, giving progressive dioceses the de facto authority to introduce gay marriage.

Resolution C056, along with Resolution D025, which on July 13 affirmed the church's intent to permit gay bishops, also comes as a personal repudiation to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams - who in a July 8 address to the General Convention pleaded for restraint.

It also sets the American Church on collision course with the wider Anglican Communion. At its May meeting in Kingston, the Anglican Consultative Council reaffirmed the Communion-wide ban on the ordination of gay clergy and authorization of same-sex blessing rites. The ACC also acknowledged the "gracious restraint" exhibited by the Episcopal Church in abiding by the moratoria despite its "deep costs."

In their February meeting in Alexandria, the Primates reaffirmed the moratoria as did the 2008 Lambeth Conference. Hopes that a solution might lie in the proposed Anglican Covenant which Dr Williams has argued is the best way forward through the crisis of doctrine and discipline sparked by the US and Canadian churches' forays into the gay agenda now appear misplaced due to last week's actions.

Speaking to supporters at the Convention on the morning of Dr Williams' address, the Bishop of New Hampshire said there would be no turning back. Bishop Gene Robinson said he knew that "there are a lot of Episcopalians who say they are embarrassed when people say you are the ‘gay' church." To this, Episcopalians should say, "You bet we are." "We are the church of the people of colour, the church of women, the church of the mentally ill," he said, a church of no outcasts.

The debate on Resolution C056 was the first order of legislative business in the morning session of July 14. The Bishop of Missouri Wayne Smith offered C056 to the House on behalf of the Committee on the Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music stating the committee had consolidated a number of related motions into an "omnibus resolution."

Speaking for the Committee, Bishop Jeffrey Lee of Chicago said the resolution "calls for the development of rites for blessing and a theological rationale" for same-sex unions.

He added that the resolution was not a challenge to the wider church, but "helps to define ourselves in relation to the Anglican Communion."

An amendment was proposed seeking to restrict the "generous pastoral provision" clause to dioceses located only in those states that had adopted gay marriage laws. However, objections were raised, with the Bishop of San Diego arguing "pastoral generosity is not related to geography."

The Bishop of Western Kansas asked Bishop Smith if pastoral generosity included liturgical blessings. Bishop Smith replied the Committee had considered adding a specific provision for liturgies, but believed it best not to enumerate the forms pastoral generosity might take.

"Liturgies could be included" within the meaning of the resolution, but would not be named, he said. . .

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