The Episcopal Church, USA and homosexuality

The 2006 General Convention: Part 2
Responding to the Windsor Report

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This essay is a continuation from Part 1

Responding to the Windsor Report:

The Lambeth Commission on Communion was formed in 2003 to find ways by which believers throughout the Anglican Communion could agree to disagree over the question of homosexuality and thereby prevent schism of the Communion. There existed, and still exists, a wide range of beliefs about homosexual orientation and behavior within the Communion. These are primarily caused by cultural differences among the various provinces. On 2004-OCT-18, the Commission's 92 page "Windsor Report" was released to the public. ₁

The Commission found certain actions by the Episcopal Church, USA and Anglican Church of Canada to be unacceptable. They expressed regrets:

 "...that without attaching sufficient importance to the interests of the wider Communion,

the Episcopal Church (USA) proceeded with the consecration of Gene Robinson, the Diocese of New Westminster approved the use of public Rites for the Blessing of same sex unions, and the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada issued a statement affirming the integrity and sanctity of committed same sex relationships." 1

Concerning the election and consecration of a gay bishop in a loving and committed relationship, the commission "invited" the Episcopal Church, USA to:

	"...express its regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached in the events surrounding the election and consecration of a bishop for the See of New Hampshire, and for the consequences which followed, and that such an expression of regret would represent the desire of the Episcopal Church (USA) to remain within the Communion.
	"...effect a moratorium on the election and consent to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate who is living in a same gender union until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges." 2

Considering that it has taken three decades after the ordination of the first woman priest before a slim majority of Provinces allow female ordination, it would probably take many generations before a new consensus could possibly emerge in the Communion about homosexual bishops.

Concerning public rites of blessing of loving and committed same-sex unions they recommended:

	"...a moratorium on all such public Rites, and recommend that bishops who have authorized such rites in the United States and Canada be invited to express regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorization."
	"...that provinces take responsibility for endeavoring to ensure commitment on the part of their bishops to the common life of the Communion on this matter." 3

On JUN-20, the delegates to the Episcopal Church's general convention were presented with Resolution 161 which would have accepted the Windsor Report's requests. It would have urged bishops and dioceses to refrain from electing bishops "whose manner of life presents a wider challenge to the wider church." It also directed the denomination to not develop rites for blessing same-sex unions. According to the Episcopal News Service (ENS): "It affirmed the need to provide pastoral care for gay and lesbian Episcopalians -- and at the same time apologized to gays and lesbians for those decisions." It was overwhelmingly rejected with a vote of 67 to 44 by the clergy order and 71 to 38 by the lay order. Both orders must approve a resolution before it is implemented.

The Rt. Rev. Dorsey F. Henderson Jr., bishop of Upper South Carolina, who is the chairperson of the Special Legislative Committee on the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion, proposed Resolution B033. ₄ The text reads:

"Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75^th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report’s invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further Resolved, that this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion." ₅

Presiding Bishop Griswold expressed concern that the delegates might not be able to compromise on a suitable statement. He said:

"If we don't have something substantial, it will be very difficult for the Archbishop of Canterbury to invite the Presiding Bishop to the Lambeth Conference. I do know the complexity of what the Archbishop dealing with, in communion terms, and he needs for something clear to come from the Episcopal Church." ₆

The bishops debated to amendments that would have weakened B033. This ceased after Presiding Bishop-elect Katharine Jefferts Schori urged support for the original resolution. She drew an analogy between the Episcopal Church as part of the larger Anglican Communion and the fate of conjoined twins. The analogy occurred to her when Bishop Charles Jenkins of Louisiana talked about there being one church and two minds. She said:

ENS reported:

	"Deputies debated for 30 minutes before voting. Speakers in support of the measure said they found the resolution to be imperfect but it should be adopted anyway."
	James Bradberry from the Diocese of Southern Virginia said his support of the failed A161 "was the only vote I've ever cast about which I am genuinely ashamed." He urged adoption of B033 because it would tell the Anglican Communion "we have struggled and done our best, and this is what we have to offer."
	Philip Linder from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina said:

"Our presiding bishop and new presiding bishop[-elect] have spoken with clarity about what it will take for us to remain at the table of conversation with the worldwide Anglican Communion....We are a passionate body, but the Anglican Communion is passionate, too."

The Rev. Andrew Cooley of the Diocese of Colorado said:

"We are in a centrifuge that is spinning faster and faster, so the left and the right look the same. The center requires strength, courage and a deliberation to remain."

Tim Baer of the Diocese of Oklahoma said:

"I realized at this General Convention that I represent the mushy middle. I hope someday in the future the church I love so much will be beyond this debate and engaged in mission."

The Rev. John Spencer of the Diocese of Quincy said this resolution would not satisfy the requests made of the Episcopal Church by the Windsor Report:

"It's not even in the ballpark of the request. It's not even in the parking lot of the ballpark. [Adopting the language of this resolution] comes close to the height of hypocrisy". ₆

The resolution fell far short of almost all of the requests cited in the Windsor report. The denomination:

	Ignored the request to express regret at the confirmation of Bishop Robinson's consecration. This would presumably require them to say that they had made a mistake.
	Ignored the request to express regret at the distress that their decisions caused to the larger Anglican Communion.
	Implied that the Episcopal Church wants to stay in the Anglican Communion.
	Did declare a non-binding suggestion for a moratorium on the future consecration priests who life exhibits certain,  not specifically stated, behaviors.
	Ignored the request for a firm moratorium on the recognition of loving, committed same-sex relationships.
	Ignored the request that their bishops be pressured to not allow same-sex rituals.

This topic continues in Part 3

References:

The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.

1. "General Findings," Commission on Communion, at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
2. "On elections to the episcopate," Commission on Communion, at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
3. "On public Rites of Blessing of same sex unions," Commission on Communion, at: http://www.anglicancommunion.org/
4. Matthew Davies, "From Columbus: Major Windsor action draws mixed reactions," Episcopal News Service, 2006-JUN-21, at: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/
5. "Final version...Resolution B033," at: http://gc2006.org/
6. Pat McCaughan, et al,. "UPDATE: From Columbus: Convention responds to Windsor Report's call for moratorium," Episcopal News Service, 2006-JUN-21, at: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/
7. George Byron Koch, "Future of the Episcopal Church and Church of the Resurrection, West Chicago," 2006-JUN-29, at: http://www.resurrection.org/

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Latest update: 2011-JUN-11
Author: B.A. Robinson

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