Episcopal Sausage Making

It's virtually impossible for me to keep up on this blog with everything happening in Indianapolis, especially from Tallahassee.

But in a convention center far, far away from here, the discussion is underway on the Anglican Covenant. The No Anglican Covenant Coalition has its Episcopal convenor, Lionel Deimel, and our moderator from the Anglican Church of Canada, Revd. Malcolm French, at the convention. Both of them are providing on-the-ground perspective on their blogs which can be found in the "Brilliance in the Blogosphere" to the right. You can also check in on the NACC blog "Comprehensive Unity."  There really is only one acceptable stance on the Anglican Covenant: "No!"  Apparently, there is still hand-wringing among some who worry that a "No" vote will result in the Episcopal Church being relegated to a second-tier status.  Well, at this point, we'll have some excellent company because the Scots have rejected it along with the Philippines.  And, let's face it: the Scottish Church helped us create an Anglican Communion when they gave us our first bishop in the States with Richard Seabury.  The majority of English dioceses have rejected the document which sets up a system of rules and punishment that simply have never been part of Anglican doctrine.  What makes us the lovable, frustrating, fractious people of God that we are is that we don't have a lock-step approach to church, but we do share a common love of God as embodied in Christ and breathed as the Holy Spirit.  If we can please just accept that we are never going to agree on everything, but we do agree on the essential truths, then we can put this nonsense to rest and get on with being agents of Love in a world that sorely needs that.

There is, of course, lots more happening at General Convention. Things seem to be proceeding apace on the full inclusion of transgender people in the church and more movement on the marriage front... beyond just simply allowing the blessing of same-sex marriages. Today, a committee in the House of Deputies moved forward a resolution that would create a task force to study and report to the 78th General Convention on giving priests the opportunity to marry same-sex couples, not just bless them. For serious church wonks, this same discussion is happening simultaneously with the Presbyterian Church USA.

And yes--there's even more happening in Indianapolis. The Episcopal Church has set up a feed that will let those not in attendance tune in to watch what's happening.

Please keep all at the Convention in your prayers, especially if they step outside into the unusually hot and humid weather they're having in Indiana right now!

Praise for the Presbyterians!

The votes are not all in, but enough have pushed the measure, known as Amendment 10-A, over the top to allow for the ordination of openly-gay and partnered ministers in the Presbyterian Church, USA.  The tally currently stands at 87-62.  Twenty-four Presbyteries still have yet to weigh in, but that's not enough to reverse the decision.

The Presbyterians, like the Episcopalians and the Lutherans, have been wrestling, praying and voting on the future inclusion of LGBT people in the pulpits of their church for three decades or more.   But tonight, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities in Minnesota gave the necessary approval to the change in the church's constitution to open the door to ordination of LGBT people.

The new language in the constitution says:

“Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life. The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all the requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation. Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

Gone is the requirement for "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman."  They've also ended the requirement of "chastity" for a single person.  

Also interesting in this vote are the Presbyteries that changed their original opposition to this amendment.  Among those coming to see the light: Florida, South and North Alabama, Middle Tennessee and South Louisiana.   The switch in position could be a reflection of a change in the hearts and minds of those voting members as they come to know more LGBT people.  It could also be that most of the opponents have already left the Presbyterian Church USA.  

Rev. Janet Edwards, Co-Moderator of the LGBT rights group More Light Presbyterians, calls the adoption of Amendment 10-A noted how long the struggle has been for the Church.

"I am so grateful for the sacrificial effort of so many people over these years to bring this deeply Reformed correction to an error made by the Church. Both during these months as the presbyteries have voted and for the last 37 years, you have courageously and steadfastly given of yourselves in a host of ways to bring our Church to this moment. Every bit of your energy, intelligence, imagination and love was needed to come to this new day. I am grateful to God for the privilege of being part of this witnessing community."

Congratulations!  And may God's love expand and touch even those who tonight are disappointed with the outcome.

Mixed Minneapolis Bag for Presbyterians

There's some good news, and some bad news from the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.'s General Assembly meeting in Minneapolis.

On the one hand, the group gathered for the 219th General Assembly voted to allow non-celibate LGBT people to be called as pastors in their church (YAY!). The vote of 53-percent in favor vs. 46-percent against indicates that there is support, and still some work to do at assuring everyone that a gay person in the pulpit is NOT going against the Gospel. That will happen with time and God's grace, I'm sure.

On the other hand, a move to approve the blessing of same-sex marriages and civil unions failed to garner the votes necessary to make the PCUSA one of the most progressive mainline Christian denominations in the country. Eleven members of the pro-LGBT group Soulforce were arrested when they held a silent "pray-in" protest of the vote. The group reportedly marched to the front of the assembly hall, holding up signs that read: "Prayer: Ordination, Marriage, Pension". To read more about what is happening in Minneapolis, check out the More Light Presbyterians blog HERE.

To me, this seems like a situation where one can either see the glass as half-empty or half-full. It would have been AMAZING if the the Presbyterians had adopted a standard of marriage being between "two people" as opposed to "a man and a woman". But just because it didn't happen this time doesn't mean that all is lost. Especially given the vote on ordination orders. That is huge, and gives me as an Episcopalian hope and joy as I continue to bear witness to God's inclusive love. When our fellow brothers and sisters on the Christian path begin chipping away at long-held prejudices that we in our Episcopal Church are also struggling with, there is a true sense that we are not alone... not in the temporal or the eternal. And I think that when congregations begin to see LGBT people in leadership roles, and realize (again) that this is the Gospel fulfilled not flaunted, then it will ease the pain that comes with recognizing, "Oh, yeah: why did I think gay people couldn't form loving partnerships in marriage?"

When the scales fall from the eyes, that's when people will truly see. I keep trusting that God's ways will win out in the end... even when people try to interfere.