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2000-032

Commission on Liturgy and Music says sexuality decisions belong 
on diocesan level

by James Solheim

     (ENS) Those who were expecting the Commission on Liturgy and 
Music to drop a bombshell on the highly controversial issue of 
ordinations of homosexuals and blessing of same-sex relationships 
are going to be disappointed. The commission's report for July's 
General Convention urges more dialogue and, until there is some 
consensus, leaving the dioceses to handle the issue.

     The report, now in the mail to bishops and deputies, asks 
the General Convention to "urge congregations, dioceses and every 
other church group and organization to facilitate genuine and 
respectful encounter between heterosexual and homosexual 
parishioners, recognizing that they live different lifestyles, 
hold different opinions but share one Lord, one faith, one 
baptism."

     In a resolution that is likely to draw criticism from 
factions trying to resolve the issue once and for all, the report 
says that "each diocese, under the spiritual direction of its 
bishop, shall determine the resolution of issues related to same-
sex relationships, including the blessing of such relationships, 
and the ordination of homosexual Christians."

     The commission was asked by the last General Convention in 
1997 to "continue its study of theological aspects of committed 
relationships of same-sex couples and to issue a full report, 
including recommendations of future steps." Because the House of 
Deputies in 1997 narrowly defeated a resolution calling for the 
commission to prepare a liturgical rite for blessing same-sex 
relationships, some hoped that the commission would lead the way 
in recommending such a change.

Passion and pain

     In the introduction to its report, the commission called 
attention to 25 years of debate on the role of homosexuals in the 
life of the church, a debate marked by "passion on both sides of 
the issue, as well as pain." And it added, "There has been 
prejudice, misinformation and a lack of Christian charity."

     The report attempts to remedy the situation by providing 
short essays on a range of theological perspectives. One on 
Scripture--by Prof. L. William Countryman; Tradition--by Prof. 
Richard Norris; Experience--by Bishop Charles Bennison; a review 
of understandings of homosexuality--by Prof. Timothy Sedgwick; 
Ecclesiology--by Prof. Daniel Stevick; Blessing--by Prof. Leonel 
Mitchell; Catechesis and same-sex blessings--by Prof. Sheryl 
Kujawa; and a concluding reflection by Bishop Paul Marshall of 
Bethlehem. Bibliographies are attached to the essays.

     Marshall says that, among the choices facing the church, "is 
the possibility of allowing the political process to dominate, 
ending the issue without settling it, by taking an up-or-down 
vote." But because all of our knowledge on the subject is 
"imperfect," and in a state that could be described as 
"ignorance," he concludes, "To admit that we are not ready, 
theologically or scientifically, to say a defining word about the 
life of homosexuals in the church betokens the much broader 
disagreement, in practice, among very faithful people regarding 
sexual mores in general."

     Urging those on both sides of the debate to proceed with 
some humility, Marshall said that "it seems best not to take 
absolutist positions on a national level about what cannot be 
known with great certainty."

     He added, "When we simply cannot agree that one view compels 
the allegiance of all faithful people, as is the case today, the 
reverently ignorant thing to do is either to abstain altogether 
from making a decision, or else to allow dioceses to find their 
own way in the matter and only much later, if ever, come to some 
general agreement." And he warned, "The principal alternative 
seems to be schism, which many an ancient Christian believed to 
be a state far worse than heresy or ignorance."

Hopes--and fears

     The Rev. Bruce Jenneker of Boston, chair of the commission, 
said in an interview that the 1976 General Convention said that 
"homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal 
claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and 
pastoral concern and care of the church."

     The problem is that "we have been trying to work out what 
that means ever since," he added. "We opened a vision for gay 
people in the church, one that has not been accomplished. We 
raised expectations but also fears--and we as a commission wanted 
to address the hopes as well as the fears."

     Jenneker said that the commission was "looking for a way to 
help the church move forward on an issue where there is no 
unanimity, where there are good people on both sides." Using the 
strong differences of opinion when the church opened the 
priesthood to women, he said that the commission is "looking for 
a way to live with our differences," based on a shared commitment 
to unity and diversity held in an honest tension. 

--James Solheim is director of the Episcopal Church's Office of 
News and Information.