How is it that sometimes the import of the moment arrives with great clarity, like having the San Francisco fog, a visual 'herd of elephants' pushed by an invisible force, flee before the radiant sun. Sometimes such a moment can only be gauged over time, unfolding like a spring bud. I wrote yesterday that the passage of resolution D025 by both houses here at General Convention was the latter. Yesterday morning, watching the House of Bishops begin deliberation on C056 was just the opposite; it felt more like momentum. I arrived at the visitors' section of the House of Bishops a little after the conversation started, and the first thing I saw was my classmate and good friend, the Bishop of Kansas, Dean Wolf, stand to ask that those who were in the majority on this issue exercise "generosity of spirit" with those who were in the minority. I was taken aback. Had votes been taken already? Who was this apparently overwhelming majority and who was the minority? This resolution was one of the more controversial. It has to do with the second essential pillar for full inclusion, the companion of D025 which affirmed full inclusion into the ordained roles of the Church. It's called C056 and it directs the Standing Committee on Liturgy (standing committees meet throughout the year, not just every three years), to develop rites for the blessings of same gendered couples. In very similar forms, this resolution has been before General Conventions since 1994. The difference is that this time it has, as I said, real momentum.
Many observers, including our own Bishop Johnston in his pre-election appearances around the diocese, have stated that the ability to bless same gender couples in the context of a liturgy approved by the Church is the lynchpin of all changes dealing with the full inclusion of the GLBT community. There is the clear expectation that we hold ourselves, all of us, to a high moral standard. This is a requirement of our ordained persons. 'Faithful', 'monogamous', 'life affirming', 'committed','intentional' are words that we use in describing intimacy between two people. While we recognize only two sacraments in the Episcopal Church, Baptism and Eucharist, we still consider Confirmation, Last Rites, Holy Orders, the Penitential rite and the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage to be “lesser” sacraments. The last of these sacraments is withheld only from gay and lesbian couples and its denial then bans them from serving the Church as clergy. I agree with Bishop Johnston and others who assert that ordained persons living in an intimate relationship with another person should have the expectation of having that relationship conform to the moral expectations of the Church. Now, back to the story of the day.
Several bishops spoke powerfully about the resolution, many in favor, some opposed, and several bishops suggested amendments to change the resolution, some a little, some a lot. It was then I began to see the helium leak out of the balloon. Finally, the Presiding Bishop tabled the discussion until today, Wednesday, in the afternoon. I heard in a meeting just a few moments ago that the bishops formed a subcommittee and have written a substitute resolution. I’m hoping the issue will be discussed on the floor of the House of Bishops this afternoon; but that might not happen.
Unfortunately, delaying an important vote such as this for two days provides a tactical opportunity for those who oppose passage to keep the resolution from being acted upon at all. In the labyrinthine machinations of parliamentary procedure, legislation gets lost in the waning days of convention. If the Bishops pass a substitute resolution this afternoon, it will go to the Deputies tomorrow. A special order could possibly put it on the floor tomorrow morning, Thursday. But if any amendments are approved by the Deputies, then it must go back to the Bishops, who will discuss the new form with the amendment included. This would take until Friday, the last day of convention, when many participants will have their attention directed towards home. I well remember 2006 when B033, the resolution asking for a moratorium on the consecration of partnered bishops, happened on Friday. It will be most unfortunate if the acceptance of this very important resolution gets rushed into an up or down vote; equally so if it has to wait another three years. Some have asked for a rundown of the votes for D025.
House of Deputies
Clergy:
The Rev. Susan E. Goff, St. Christopher’s, Springfield yes
The Rev. Susan N. Eaves, St. Thomas’, Richmond yes
The Rev. Robert W. Prichard, Virginia Theological Seminary no
The Rev. James A. Papile, St. Anne’s, Reston yes
Lay:
Mr. Russell V. Randle, Christ Church, Alexandria no
Mr. Russell V. Palmore, Jr., St. Paul’s, Richmond no
Mrs. Cindi Bartol, Christ Church, Alexandria yes
Mr. John Paul Causey, Jr., St. John’s, West Point yes
Bishops:
The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee yes
The Rt. Rev. David Jones yes
The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston no
