wfn.org | General Convention: Resolutions put

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June 6, 1997
Episcopal News Service
Jim Solheim, Director
212-922-5385
ens@ecunet.org

97-1794
General Convention: Resolutions put sex on General Convention agenda

by Mary Lee B. Simpson
   (ENS) Much like the energizer bunny, the Episcopal Church's
dialogue on human sexuality keeps on going ... and going ... and going. 
   And it's going right on to Philadelphia, during a General Convention
that is laden already with far-reaching and historical, energy-consuming
deliberations for deputies and bishops: the election of a new presiding
bishop, restructure of the church, full communion with the Lutherans,
and the extension of women's ordination in all dioceses, to name a few.
   "I don't have much optimism that we'll make much progress this
General Convention," said the Rev. Jane N. Garrett, deputy from the
Diocese of Vermont and co-chair of the Committee for Dialogue on
Human Sexuality. "I don't sense that sex is the big issue this year."
   Though sex may not be the big topic this time around, there will still
be plenty of it on the convention's agenda. 

Report developed on blessing same-sex relationships
   The 15-page report on the blessing of same-sex relationships,
prepared collaboratively by members of the Standing Liturgical
Commission (SLC) and the theology committee of the House of Bishops,
outlines four options for the church to consider: continue emphasizing the
teaching that the right and proper context for genital sexual relations is
within heterosexual marriage; ask the SLC to devise a rite of marriage to
be authorized for use equally with heterosexual or homosexual couples;
ask the SLC to develop a rite that would bestow the church's official
blessing on same-sex unions, though in a manner that is clearly not the
same as marriage; or accept the ambiguity and affirm the duty of local
pastors to respond pastorally. 
   The report will go to a convention committee that will consider it
and recommend a response for convention, though what kind of response
is anybody's guess.
   In addition, seven proposed resolutions--all tentative at this time--are
expected.Two, coming from the Dioceses of Pennsylvania and
Missouri, request the creation and dissemination of rites for the blessing
of committed relationships between persons of the same sex.
   Three, from the Dioceses of El Camino Real, Newark and New
York, call for the Church Pension Fund to extend benefits now available
only to clergy spouses to life partners of gay and lesbian clergy as well.
   Once again, the Diocese of El Camino Real is asking General
Convention to direct the church's Medical Trust to offer health coverage
to unmarried domestic partners. Although bishops and deputies in
Indianapolis three years ago agreed that gay and lesbian couples need
legal rights to health and pension benefits and called on local and national
legislatures to grant such protection, they denied such coverage for
partners of church employees. In a ballot by orders, the resolution failed
by only a few votes in each order.

Canon change on sex outside marriage for clergy
   Bishops and deputies may also endure some lengthy deliberations
with two other proposed resolutions dealing with changes in the canons.
One is an amendment to prohibit clergy from sexual relations outside
marriage, offered by Bishop William C. Wantland of the Diocese of Eau
Claire. The other is an amendment defining "immorality" to include all
forms of sexual intercourse between unmarried people.
   And to keep the dialogue going after Philadelphia comes this
resolution from the Committee for Dialogue on Human Sexuality: that
the dialogue continue, on a voluntary basis.
   "The most important thing our committee learned is that top-down
dialogue doesn't work," said Garrett. "People were deeply suspicious
because of the top-down approach. Leadership is crucial but it must come
from the local and diocesan levels."
   The committee, formed by the 1994 General Convention in
Indianapolis, was asked to devise ways to encourage use of the bishops'
"Continuing the Dialogue" study document throughout the church. The
document emerged from attempts by the House of Bishops to write a
definitive pastoral letter.

Energy for dialogue waning
   From an extensive survey of dioceses studying the bishops'
document and other human sexuality resources, the group also learned
that energy on dialoguing is waning. 
   People are weary of being told they have to discuss this topic,
according to the committee's Blue Book report. Some equate "dialogue"
with "debate" or "deadlock," the report notes. Dialogue is often seen as a
way of furthering "their" agenda whoever "they" may be. And people are
confused about what they are dialoguing about.
   Whatever does or does not happen in Philadelphia, the questions and
the struggles will keep on going ... and going ... and going.

--Mary Lee Simpson is editor of the Southwestern Episcopalian
newspaper of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia, and will cover
General Convention for the Convention Daily.