Well, the fat is in the fire. The House of Deputies, by a wide margin, adopted DO25 a wordy resolution that in the end moves the church beyond BO33, the 2006 resolution that banned future gay bishops. DO25 leaves such future elections to the discernment of each diocese and the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church which clearly do not set sexual orientation as a barrier to any level of ordination. It was a great moment on the floor of the deputies when the vote was announced.
But all hell is breaking loose with the conservatives: the General Synod of the Church of England (CofE) which is also in session, has received a motion to change its recognition from the Episcopal Church to the new break away Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), I understand that it cannot be acted on at this meeting of the Synod, but must wait until the next, whenever that is.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, of the CofE, has publicly regretted the action of the U.S. House of Deputies in adopting DO25 and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has responded to the Archbishop by warning the CofE not to stir up schism, declaring it a non-Christian act.
In the meantime, it continues to be the popular belief that the U.S. House of Bishops will kill DO25. Even Bishop John Chane, liberal and pro-gay, has been quoted as saying that DO25 is not helpful and doubts it will pass the House of Bishops. In my humble opinion, such an act by the bishops would be a PR disaster for them and if not resulting in a public booing, a virtual booing just the same. They will lose great influence with the people. It will change everything.
But all hell is breaking loose with the conservatives: the General Synod of the Church of England (CofE) which is also in session, has received a motion to change its recognition from the Episcopal Church to the new break away Anglican Church of North America (ACNA), I understand that it cannot be acted on at this meeting of the Synod, but must wait until the next, whenever that is.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, of the CofE, has publicly regretted the action of the U.S. House of Deputies in adopting DO25 and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church has responded to the Archbishop by warning the CofE not to stir up schism, declaring it a non-Christian act.
In the meantime, it continues to be the popular belief that the U.S. House of Bishops will kill DO25. Even Bishop John Chane, liberal and pro-gay, has been quoted as saying that DO25 is not helpful and doubts it will pass the House of Bishops. In my humble opinion, such an act by the bishops would be a PR disaster for them and if not resulting in a public booing, a virtual booing just the same. They will lose great influence with the people. It will change everything.
I don't know if the bishops heard his message, but the Very Rev Rowan Smith, Dean of Cape Town, addressed the deputies and among other things told us of a Fresh Hell for lesbians in South Africa. It's called 'Curative Rape.' Parents detain their lesbian daughters and engage a man to repeatedly rape her over several days in the belief it will cure their daughter of her lesbianism. Dean Smith and the local Cathedral have created a safe house/sanctuary for lesbians in danger of Curative Rape. Just when you think you have heard of every cruel human act, we learn of something like this.
This may be an over-simplification to some, but it seems to me that the two Houses are in fundamentally different places: the HoD wants Justice (for gays and now) and the HoB wants Peace (at home in the world wide Anglican communion).
But there is other important news to report as well. The HoD also adopted a proposal to allocate $3,500,000 for Hispanic ministries- the creation of new parishes and assistance to existing ones (if this passes the HoB) we should jump on it and see if there will be any grant funds available. So far, at least at this convention, this is the only membership growth initiative. It's potential for the church and for the folks involved is very exciting.
Various resolutions on same sex blessings are still working their way through committees and it may well be a few more days before we receive anything on the floor.
Monday will be a busy legislative day - we'll be in session for six hours.
by Jim Greer
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