Episcopal General Convention Says "Amen" to Inclusion

The House of Deputies reiterated its overwhelming support for the full inclusion of all the baptized in all orders of ministry by concurring with resolution DO25 as amended by the House of Bishops.

"Today's action put the "Amen" at the end of one of the prayers we have prayed for an inclusive church -- ending the BO33 "season" by stating unequivocally that the LGBT baptized can and will have equal access to ordination processes in the Episcopal Church," said the Reverend Susan Russell, president of IntegrityUSA.

"Our Lord told us that 'the truth will set us free' -- and what this General Convention has done is to tell the truth that will set the Episcopal Church free for mission and ministry."

"We rejoice in this powerful witness to the Gospel and to God's inclusive love, and we urge the House of Bishops to continue in the spirit of truth and unity as they work on resolution C056 so that the General Convention will send us out from Anaheim with the same kind of clarity about the blessing of same-sex relationships."

Move Beyond, Deputies Tell World Mission Committee

In an unusual procedure, the House of Deputies today took time as a committee of the whole to give guidance to the Committee on World Missions about how to proceed with regard to B033. The notorious B033 was passed in haste at the end of GenCon 2006 to appease those in the Anglican Communion who threatened not to be in conversation let alone communion with us if we persisted in ordaining openly gay people as bishops.

Most deputies shared stories of the effect of that resolution on their friends and parishes. LGBT people experienced it as the door swinging shut once again and clergy had difficulty explaining how the Episcopal Church could really Welcome You if LGBT people are only welcome so far. One deputy quoted from Acts 10 - the reading we’ll hear at tonight’s Integrity Eucharist - where Peter says that we should not call anyone profane or unclean. That, he claimed, was the actual effect of B033.

Several deputies argued for more time, more time to continue the conversations with those who cannot agree with LGBT inclusion. They noted that the Church has not officially said that monogamous same sex relationships are a ‘wholesome example’ of Christian living, that we should not change too fast or out of step with the wider Church. For some B033 had provided a cease-fire in the midst of great conflict, and they asked for a longer period for healing.

One deputy acknowledged the fear that the full inclusion of LGBT people in the leadership of the Episcopal Church would shatter the Anglican Communion, but that our ‘bonds of affection’ have begun to choke us. How long he asked must we watch the fruit wither on the vine? ‘Help me understand,’ he begged, how long must we wait because of provinces of the Communion which actively support the persecution of LGBT people? A deputy from Hawaii reminded us that Jesus caused a schism in the Jewish community, and called the Church to live with the difficult teachings of Jesus. Will we continue, he asked, to sacrifice for the promise of a false unity with those who want nothing to do with us?

It is immoral, said another, for us to pick out one group and sacrifice them…
MOVE BEYOND!

Caroline Hall for IntegrityUSA

What Integrity Wants Integrity Will Get!

So said Charlie Holt of Central Florida in the hearing about various resolutions which offer ways to move beyond B033. He argued that B033 was the best thing that happened for the liberals (read Integrity) in the Episcopal Church because conservatives felt it was so inadequate that many split away from the church. The question before us is he said, what does God want for our church, not what does Integrity want.

President Susan Russell soon responded with a strong metaphor. Integrity wants the blockages in the circulatory system of the Body of Christ to be removed. The heart of mission pulses blood through the Body, she said, and we have the skill and wisdom to remove the impediment that blocks the flow – non-canonical requirements for episcopal ordination (C007).

Lawyer Muffy Maloney assured us that in imposing non-canonical restrictions, BO33 is void because it is in contradiction to several canons and therefore against Roberts Rules of Order.
Maybe I was getting tired but it seemed to me that most of the testimony repeated what was said in the afternoon about equal marriage rites. There are many gay people and most of the people speaking and listening were LGBT friendly though about 10 speakers supported the continuation of B033.

Will Integrity get what Integrity wants? We don’t know, but it will come as a surprise to Deputy Hunt and others who share his perspective, that Integrity wants what God wants for the Church.

We believe that’s full inclusion.
Caroline Hall for IntegrityUSA