Sometimes the Journey is like a Dance

Today, I include a good portion of the Blog from The Rev. Thack Dyson because it is interesting, centered and from the perspective of the House of Deputies; and I agree with what he has to say. I have edited some of his thoughts and added my own remarks and comments as well. Thanks to all our deputies for their work.

The House of Deputies of the 76th General Convention wrestled with its first major resolution yesterday in Resolution D025. The House, by more than a 2-1 margin, adopted a resolution that declares the ordination process of the Episcopal Church open to all individuals, while expressing its ongoing commitment to the Anglican Communion. The split in the vote surprised many of the deputations. The vote was 77-31 in the lay order and 74-25 in the clergy order. The House of Bishops approved D025 today, also by a 2-1 margin with a vote of 99-45 and 2 abstentions, which is consistent with the House of Deputies.

So what is Resolution D025? Resolution D025 was offered in response to resolution B033, which was adopted in Columbus, Ohio at the 75th General Convention in 2006. B033 urged restraint concerning the election of bishops whose "manner of life" would cause offense to the wider Anglican Communion. It was essentially the Episcopal Church's "official" response to the request in the 2004 Windsor Report, that the Church refrain from electing practicing gay and lesbian bishops and others whose manner of life might be a challenge to the Anglican Communion. The Windsor Report was in part the result of the election of The Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003. Though B033 was not an outright prohibition from ordination, it was hoped dioceses would be sensitive to the fact that actions in The Episcopal Church do have global implications.

Resolution D025 essentially (clearly states) reaffirms the continued participation of the Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; reaffirms the Episcopal Church’s financial support of the Anglican Communion; acknowledges that the Listening Process with gay and lesbian people has resulted in the General Convention’s recognition that gay and lesbian people can and do live in relationships marked by fidelity and love; that gay and lesbian people are involved in ministry in the Church; that God has called and may call any individual in the church to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, in accordance with the discernment process as set forth in the Constitution and Canons of the Church; and acknowledges that the Anglican Communion is not of one mind on these issues.

So what does this mean?

This Resolution does not require the Dioceses of the Central Gulf Coast nor me as the Bishop, nor any of the clergy to do anything except not prohibit any aspirant for Holy Orders from entering into the discernment process or becoming a deacon or priest, because of orientation or that he or she is involved in a committed relationship. This resolution is not stating anything new. The Canons of the Church already provide that no one can be prohibited from consideration for Holy Orders because of age, gender, race or sexual orientation. Regardless of the passage of D025, any aspirant for Holy Orders must still be qualified and comply with all canonical requirements, rules and restrictions. More important, they must also be called by God to ordained ministry as anyone else in the discernment process seeking/considering ordination.

D025 is not going to change the life, mission and ministry of the Church as this is lived out in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. I have spoken with the clergy and lay deputies this evening and told them of our desire to move forward in the continued work and witness we share in our diocese. Some within the Diocese may want to overreact and be anxious. There is no need for that behavior and that spiritual unease. We are called to welcome, care for and love all God’s children. We are to seek and serve Christ in all persons loving our neighbor as ourselves. We are to respect the dignity of every human being. We will continue to do so. When one looks beyond individual issues and at the broader picture, this is what the Episcopal Church is all about and why we believe our tradition is a precious gem to be valued and preserved for future generations. Jesus is Lord! This is God’s Church and God’s work will continue to be done through it, in the congregations and communities in which we live. May God continue to bless you and please continue to keep us in your prayers.

I am in Christ’s PAX, Bishop Duncan