The Tennesseean reports:
The Episcopal bishop in Middle Tennessee does not allow priests to officiate same-sex weddings even if they want to, but supporters are trying to change that.
They want a resolution passed at this week’s Annual Convention for the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee that urges the national church to let clergy make their own decisions on whether or not to marry gay and lesbian couples in their parishes. …
If passed, the resolution will be sent to the General Convention, the governing body of the church, that meets in July in Austin, Texas.
Currently it is up to the Diocesan Bishop to allow priests and congregations to perform weddings for same sex couples. In the Diocese of Tennessee clergy cannot “officiate weddings and those canonically connected to the diocese cannot perform them elsewhere either. They also cannot happen on church property.” Eight Bishops deny or restrict marriage equality at this time. This is the most restrictive position. Some of the others have agreements with other bishops to permit clergy to officiate elsewhere. This resolution calls for a national policy to allow local churches to make the decision.
A grassroots organization called All Sacraments for All People formed in December 2015 in response to the bishop’s ban. The group wants everyone to be able to belong to a congregation that allows them to receive all the sacraments, including marriage.