Episcopalians air opinions on “pastoral generosity” and same-gender marriage in Massachusetts

About 45 people gathered at Emmanuel Church in Boston for an Aug. 13 hearing, called by the diocese’s bishops as a first step toward developing diocesan policy in response to the resolution on same-gender marriage adopted at the Episcopal Church’s recent General Convention.

Known as C056, “Liturgies for Blessings,” the resolution calls for the collection and development of “theological and liturgical resources” and gives bishops allowance to “provide generous pastoral response,” particularly in states such as Massachusetts where same-gender marriage is legal.

Because the resolution’s language is both precise and broad, bishops now are left to determine what it means in their local contexts and what implications any implementation might have for the wider church.

“I do think we are in a very unique situation here that we have to pay attention to,” Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE told the gathering.

Resolutions finally wrapped up

Here’s where Diocese of Massachusetts resolutions ended up:

Deputy Byron Rushing’s resolution, D012, on support of transgender civil rights, was adopted.

Ian Douglas’s resolutions, D019, on recommitting to the Millennium Development Goals as a mission priority, and Do18, addressing the global economic crisis, were adopted.

No action was taken on diocesan resolution C040, to amend the church calendar so that the descriptive title for the commemoration of Bernard Mizeki (June 18) reads “Zimbabwe” instead of “Rhodesia.”  This means that the resolution never made it out of committee.  Revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts (into Holy Women, Holy Men) does address this topic, however.  (See Chris Ashley’s posts, “What’s in a name?”  and “Holy everybody.”)

No action was taken on diocesan resolutions C041 and C042 to make gender-neutral amendments to the canon on Holy Matrimony.

Diocesan resolution  C061, to amend Title III.1.2 of canon on access to the ministry discernment process to include gender identity and expression, did not receive concurrence in both houses.

Diocesan resolution C062, to add to the church calendar a trial May 17 feast day for St. Andronicus and St. Junia, was referred to a committee or commission of General Convention for further study and review before the next General Convention.

Still filed under Rejection Still Stinks:  Bishop Bud Cederholm’s resolution, B001, to amend the parochial report to include data on annual energy consumption of church properties, was rejected in the House of Deputies (see “Rejection Stinks…” here).

Resolution B012, concerning “pastoral generosity in addressing civil marriage,” submitted by Bishop Stephen Lane of Maine on behalf of bishops from the six states where civil marriage of same-gender couples is legal, including Massachusetts bishops Shaw, Cederholm and Harris, got partially subsumed into C056, which was adopted.

Our source is the summary of General Convention’s actions, now available here.

More New England bishops weigh in

In his “Articles of Faith” blog on Friday, Michael Paulson updated his July 21 Boston Globe story on New England bishops’ response to General Convention’s action regarding “generous pastoral response.”

Bishops share impressions, invite members to Aug. 13 hearing

With the Episcopal Church’s triennial General Convention having concluded last week, the Diocese of Massachusetts’ bishops today wrote to diocesan clergy and lay leadership to share some impressions and an invitation to an Aug. 13 hearing.  The text of the letter follows.  

Adjourned.

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Wrapping it up

While we sort out the final whereabouts of several Massachusetts resolutions, we leave you with Heidi Shott’s “Final Wrap” of the convention.

Here’s what we do know:

Deputy Byron Rushing’s resolution, D012, on support of transgender civil rights, passed both houses and is official.

Ian Douglas’s resolutions, D019, on recommitting to the Millennium Development Goals as a mission priority, and Do18, addressing the global economic crisis, passed both houses and are official.

The following were still pending at 3 p.m. Pacific, or had somehow been subsumed into other actions (the online legislation tracking page seems to have temporarily collapsed under its own weight): 

Diocesan resolutions C040, to amend the church calendar so that the descriptive title for the commemoration of Bernard Mizeki (June 18) reads “Zimbabwe” instead of “Rhodesia”; C041 and C042 to make gender-neutral amendments to the canon on Holy Matrimony;  C061, to amend Title III.1.2 of canon on access to the ministry discernment process to include gender identity and expression; and C062, to add to the church calendar a trial May 17 feast day for St. Andronicus and St. Junia.

Filed under Rejection Still Stinks:  Bishop Bud Cederholm’s resolution, B001, to amend the parochial report to include data on annual energy consumption of church properties, was rejected in the House of Deputies (see “Rejection Stinks…” here).

Resolution B012, concerning “pastoral generosity in addressing civil marriage,” submitted by Bishop Stephen Lane of Maine on behalf of bishops from the six states where civil marriage of same-gender couples is legal, including Massachusetts bishops Shaw, Cederholm and Harris, got partially subsumed into C056, which passed both houses and is now official.

C056 adopted

The results have just been announced in the House of Deputies:  Resolution C056 passes by 2/3 majorities in both orders, 78 deputations in favor, 23 against, 7 divided (divided votes counted as no votes) in the lay order; 74 in favor, 27 against, 7 divided in the clerical order.

Update:  Massachusetts deputy Ian Douglas spoke in support of the measure during the debate, and is quoted in this Episcopal Life Online story.

“Pastoral generosity” vote tally still pending

It’s the last legislative day, and the House of Deputies spent this morning’s session mostly in debate of resolution C056, calling for the collection and development of theological and liturgical resources for blessing same-gender relationships.  Of note to dioceses in states such as Massachusetts where same-gender marriage is legal, the resolution also says that bishops “may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of the church.”

Some of the ongoing debate has been focused on exactly what “generous pastoral response” means.  Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE said in this Religion News Service story posted at Beliefnet that he is not putting forth an interpretation until he’s had a chance to confer further with colleagues and members of the diocese.

“I am pleased they gave us the pastoral generosity we need to deal with our context in Massachusetts,” Bishop Shaw said.

The results of this morning’s vote by orders in the House of Deputies were not announced before the break for the convention’s closing Eucharist at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time.  The final legislative session of convention resumes at 2 p.m.

How roomy?: A Day Nine message from Bishop Cederholm

Bishop Bud Cederholm writes:  

Bishop Bud Cederholm in the House of Bishops yesterday

“I realized these two weeks how much I feel at home in the Episcopal Church, the Anglican Communion.  It’s not always a comfortable home, but it is where I am loved and accepted by all.  It is the strength and gift of the Episcopal Church to be a haven and home to all people, including those we disagree with.

“During the conversations regarding blessing same-sex marriages and unions, bishops on either side spoke passionately about making room for each other when we disagree.  I go home knowing we have sincerely sought to listen to each other and sought to have our resolutions reflect that roominess.  I like that in our congregations but am heartbroken when people with different agendas do not make room and engage in power struggles (overt and covert) leading to conflict.  I go home knowing our call continues to make room for all people.  Every congregation and diocese, like every home, is charged with making sure there is generous hospitality and room for all.  How roomy does it feel in your home?  Your home congregation?  Our diocese?  Admittedly, we all have work to do in making room for all.  

Health and lay pension plans for the whole church

Even with all the attention being paid to high profile matters in recent days, not to be overlooked is this significant action which will affect congregations on a day-to-day basis:  The House of Deputies yesterday concurred with the bishops to make mandatory a denominational health insurance plan (resolution A177)  and a lay pension plan (resolution A138).  

The health insurance plan (which the Diocese of Massachusetts switched to earlier this year) will be administered by the Church Pension Fund, working through the Episcopal Church Medical Trust.  It applies to clergy and lay employees working a minimum of 1,500 hours a year for dioceses, parishes, missions and other designated organizations.  It will be implemented gradually over a period starting this fall and into 2012.

The lay pension plan, also administered by Church Pension Fund, applies to persons working a minimum of 1,000 hours a year, and will be implemented in 2011.

The committee work and hearings leading up to these votes have been pretty complex.  Bishop Gayle E. Harris, who chaired the Church Pension Fund Legislative Committee, tells us a little bit more about the results here.

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