The bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts have written to the people of their diocese and outlined a plan of widespread conversation to determine the appropriate diocesan response in light of the resolutions on human sexuality and pastoral care from General Convention.
The bishops write in the letter:
Before we venture an interpretation of what this action of General Convention means for us here in the Diocese of Massachusetts, and before we can form any plans for how we might proceed accordingly, we feel it is important to take some time to speak, listen and pray with diocesan clergy and leadership, including the Standing Committee, as well as with our brother and sister bishops in similarly affected dioceses, so that how we ultimately go forward in Massachusetts not only responds with integrity to the pastoral needs in our local context but also takes into account, with what we hope can be some kind of consistency, the situations of our neighboring New England dioceses. All of this we do within the bounds of our wider Episcopal Church, which took this action in unity but not unanimity. We remain mindful that what we do locally and how we do it has implications for the wider body of which we are members.
The full letter follows.
July 24, 2009
Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
With the Episcopal Church’s triennial General Convention having concluded last week, we write to share some of our impressions, our hopes going forward and an invitation to an Aug. 13 hearing.
As a diocese we were well represented by an experienced and active deputation, for which we are deeply grateful. We want you to know that your prayers for the work of your church in convention were sustaining to us over the nearly two weeks of hard work in Anaheim by your bishops, deputies, staff and so many other committed members of our diocese, clergy and lay, who participated as visitors, volunteers, advocates and witnesses-all of us together, with you, reflecting St. Paul’s understanding of the body of Christ, all of us playing a role, all of us needed, in order to be Christ’s presence in the world.
“Ubuntu-I in You and You in Me” was our convention theme, and we often witnessed and experienced efforts to present our true selves, in all of our diversity, to one another throughout our worship and work together. Both deputies and bishops, in our respective houses and in joint sessions, took time out from parliamentary procedure when necessary in order to make room for conversational engagement with difficult issues. In doing so, hearts were moved and minds were sometimes changed, and we were able to move forward, not in lock step, but in love and respect.
At a time when budgets are hard pressed at all levels, our church made some difficult decisions about how and where to devote limited resources, choosing to cut staff positions and change some ways of doing business so that our commitment to joining God’s mission in the world might be abundant. Convention reaffirmed and renewed that commitment, most notably, through reinstated funding for the Millennium Development Goals aimed at ending extreme global poverty, hunger and disease, as well as by dedicating funds for a new domestic poverty initiative and for strategic Latino/Hispanic outreach. Also of real importance to our local church communities is the convention’s adoption of a revised clergy disciplinary canon (Title IV), and the adoption of mandatory denominational health insurance and lay pension plans provided singly by the Church Pension Group for eligible employees of the Episcopal Church.
Of particular interest to our diocese, and indeed to many across our church and communion, were the two actions recognizing the ministry (D025) and pastoral needs (C056) of persons in same-sex committed relationships. These measures (appended below) were prayerfully and painstakingly crafted and deliberated upon, and deserve your careful reflection so that our summarization here, and the various interpretations being offered elsewhere, do not do injustice to the careful work that preceded their adoption.
D025, “Commitment and Witness to the Anglican Communion,” reaffirms our church’s commitment to mission and an ongoing listening process within the Anglican Communion, and it recognizes that lay and ordained ministry is being exercised by persons in committed, same-sex relationships in response to God’s call. It also acknowledges that we in this church and the broader communion are not of one mind about these matters. We voted for this resolution as a descriptive rather than prescriptive statement, and as such, we see it as a truth-telling contribution to the ongoing conversation in our communion.
C056, “Liturgies for Blessings,” calls for the collection and development of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same-gender relationships, and acknowledges the church’s need to provide pastoral response to couples in same-gender marriages and unions, particularly in places such as our own state of Massachusetts where we are ministering in the midst of a discrepancy between what our civil law allows and our church canons do not.
Before we venture an interpretation of what this action of General Convention means for us here in the Diocese of Massachusetts, and before we can form any plans for how we might proceed accordingly, we feel it is important to take some time to speak, listen and pray with diocesan clergy and leadership, including the Standing Committee, as well as with our brother and sister bishops in similarly affected dioceses, so that how we ultimately go forward in Massachusetts not only responds with integrity to the pastoral needs in our local context but also takes into account, with what we hope can be some kind of consistency, the situations of our neighboring New England dioceses. All of this we do within the bounds of our wider Episcopal Church, which took this action in unity but not unanimity. We remain mindful that what we do locally and how we do it has implications for the wider body of which we are members.
As a first step toward formulating a diocesan policy, we invite members of the diocese to offer input and ideas at a hearing on Thursday, Aug. 13, 6-8 p.m., at Emmanuel Church (15 Newbury Street) in Boston. Please share this invitation with those in your congregations who may wish to participate.
Together met, together bound, we come away from General Convention with a renewed sense of God’s mission unfolding through the breadth of ministries across our church. God’s blessing and Christ’s peace be with each of you as we continue in the inviting, forming, sending and serving ministries we share together as the Episcopal Church in eastern Massachusetts.
Faithfully,
/s/ Tom Shaw
/s/ Bud Cederholm
/s/ Gayle Harris
Resolution D025: Commitment and Witness to the Anglican Communion
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm the continued participation of The Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion; give thanks for the work of the bishops at the Lambeth Conference of 2008; reaffirm the abiding commitment of The Episcopal Church to the fellowship of churches that constitute the Anglican Communion and seek to live into the highest degree of communion possible; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention encourage dioceses, congregations, and members of The Episcopal Church to participate to the fullest extent possible in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and pledge to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm the value of “listening to the experience of homosexual persons,” as called for by the Lambeth Conferences of 1978, 1988, and 1998, and acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention has come to recognize that the baptized membership of The Episcopal Church includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships “characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God” (2000-D039); and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge that members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good conscience disagree about some of these matters.
Resolution C056: Liturgies for Blessings
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge the changing circumstances in the United States and in other nations, as legislation authorizing or forbidding marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons is passed in various civil jurisdictions that call forth a renewed pastoral response from this Church, and for an open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, collect and develop theological and liturgical resources, and report to the 77th General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, devise an open process for the conduct of its work inviting participation from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are engaged in such theological work, and inviting theological reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion; and be it further
Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention honor the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters of human sexuality; and be it further
Resolved, That the members of this Church be encouraged to engage in this effort.