General Convention 2009: Bishop’s Report No. 1
B033 Remains in Place
Beloved, our General Convention has decided to leave in place the resolution, adopted in 2006, which called for restraint in consenting to the consecration of bishops whose “manner of life”, widely understood to mean homosexuality, would cause concern in The Episcopal Church and in the rest of the Anglican Communion. Instead of rescinding or modifying B033, a so-called “template” resolution (D025) has been crafted which, it appears, will receive final approval by both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, probably today. (It was passed in its original form by the House of Deputies, but was amended by the House of Bishops, and must now be returned to the House of Deputies which must consider whether to accept or reject the amendment.)
The resolution has 7 parts, in which the General Convention resolves:
1. To reaffirm our continued participation in the Anglican Communion, giving thanks for the work of bishops attending Lambeth Conference, and pledging to “live into the highest degree of communion possible.
2. To encourage dioceses, congregations and members of The Episcopal Church to “participate…in the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion.
3. To reaffirm its financial commitment to the Anglican Communion and to participate fully in the Inter-Anglican Budget.
4. To affirm the call of three Lambeth Conferences (1978, 1988, and 1998) to listen “to the experience of homosexual persons, and to acknowledge that through our own listening the General Convention “has come to recognize that the baptized fellowship…includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships ‘characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect…and the holy love which enables (them) to see in each other the image of God’”.
5. To recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in…God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church….”
6. To affirm that God’s call to the ordained ministry of 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 that God has called and may call such individuals (see 4. above) to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church.
7. To 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.
Obviously, it is the 6th resolve which will be the most controversial. In the form which came to the Bishops from the Deputies, it read as follows: that the Convention “has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry…which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church….” I moved an amendment to change all of that resolve to read that the Convention “affirm that God’s call to the ordained ministry…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….” It was my conviction that this affirmation, which I believe to be a clear statement of our discernment process, and focuses on the nature of God’s call, would reassure all Episcopalians and other Anglicans more than the original language. However, the House adopted an amendment to my amendment, which incorporated both the original language and the language which I had proposed.
It may come as a surprise to some that I voted “yes” on the final version of the resolution in the House of Bishops. I did so with powerful, mixed feelings, and my sleep during the night was not sound. My thinking is this: it is critically important that (1) we leave B033 in place, and (2) that we reaffirm our commitment to, involvement in, and support of the entire Anglican Communion, its life, mission and ministry. I do realize that some intend to use the language of the sixth resolve to advance an agenda for which I believe neither we nor the other churches of the Anglican Communion are ready to endorse separately or corporately. However, the content of the resolution, taken as a whole, is more helpful than not.
But more anon, I’m sure.
With warmest personal regards, with the people of our diocese in my heart, and coveting your continued prayers for the unity and mission of the Church, I remain faithfully yours in our Lord,
+Dorsey USC VII.
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Comments
Our leadership must be capable of being held to the highest scrutiny. Please hold them to this in their everyday lifestyles.
Are homosexuals in a committed relationship acceptable in God’s sight? If not why do we allow them to be music ministers, vestry members, etc? It seems to me to be utterly hypocritical to say that they’re “ok” in one ministry, but not “ok” in another ministry. It also seems hypocritical to pick out one sin to stigmatize, yet continue to ordain and consecrate those who are clearly dealing with other ongoing sins (pride, envy, sloth, greed,to name a few). Perhaps the Church needs to address these issues before going further?
B033, such as it was, remains in place, true, but in the same way Confederate currency remains in existence: As an artifact with no potency. The gate is open, and no amount of spin-doctoring will shut it.
Silencing the dissenting? Perhaps as in the convention? Assumptions that those who share contrary views simply get them from the media is just that – an assumption. Perhaps these discernments come from first hand eye-witness accounts. It really is no longer about complaining about what isn’t and moving toward what good there is. For the conservative disenfranchised folks- We pray not that God will bless our doings but rather that will we involve ourselves with what God is blessing. It is no longer about the steeple but rather it is about the people. Living in Babylon has it’s consequences and judgements.
From your summary of Resolution D025:”God has called and may call such individuals (see 4. above) to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church” and yet you say, “it is critically important that (1) we leave B033 in place”
I have read these statements 2 or 3 times each and I can not make sense of what you are trying to tell us. I honestly believe your background as a lawyer is hindering your attempts to simply tell your flock what you believe. ( I guess we are to be appreciative that you introduced an amendment to affirm the discernment process?) I believe, for us, it is more important for us to have some understanding how you have come to believe what ever it is you believe on this issue.
Simply stated, to me, as I read your writings, it seems to me you do know what side to be on. This is ok–if you honestly admit such. However, it seems that you craft the tone of your response to the audience; and if it is the entire diocese, then you write so that who ever reads the document, they can be happy–something will be said in a way so as to be utterly supportive to either camp.
After reading so many comments, I remain surprised and delighted that so many people are engaged. This should
increase our ASAs!!! There does seem to be a general march
toward “choosing -up sides” Boys and girls, this is NOT
a soft ball game. There are no sides.
Prejudice is always based in worldly materialism and therefore cannot be considered in the kingdom of God.
Please join me in constant prayer for those who have yet to relinquish control of their lives to the Holy Spirit.
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