Resolution B033 continues to spark passionate debate
Episcopal News Service -- Anaheim, California. July 10, 2009 [071009-06]
Melodie Woerman, Director of Communications for the Diocese of Kansas
A second one-hour meeting of the House of Deputies as a Committee of the Whole on July 10 saw deputies speak with passion and commitment about the impact of B033, a resolution adopted by the 2006 General Convention. It calls for restraint in electing as bishops those whose "manner of life," widely understood to mean homosexuality, would cause concern for the rest of the Anglican Communion.
In a departure from parliamentary procedure, the 27 speakers were determined by random selection on July 9, as deputies drew numbered slips of paper. Those holding the lowest numbers were entitled to speak. Of those who spoke, 19 advocated some form of rejection of B033, while eight asked that it be preserved.
Several speakers who oppose B033 referred to the well-known slogan on signs outside many Episcopal churches that say "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You." Ian Hallas (Chicago) said, "How powerful a message that is, that message containing no restraint, no small print, no asterisk." Bruce Garner (Atlanta) said, "It is time to toss out B033 and move beyond it. It is time to really mean that the Episcopal Church welcomes you."
Several speakers spoke of the cost B033 has extracted from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons within the Episcopal Church. "Gays and lesbians are asked to make sacrifices the rest of us are not asked to make," said the Rev. J. Frederick Barber (Fort Worth). The Rev. Michael Russell (San Diego) said, "We can sacrifice ourselves, but it is immoral to pick out a group and sacrifice them for our comfort zone." The Rev. Liz Zavanov (Hawaii) asked, "Will we continue to sacrifice a portion of God's people for a false sense of security with those who don't want to be with us?"
The need to stay in relationship with other members of the Anglican Communion was a common thread among those who favor retaining B033.
The Rev. Dan Martins (Northern Indiana) noted that the resolution had accomplished a great deal, including getting Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori invited to the Primates Meeting and Episcopal bishops invited to the 2008 Lambeth Conference. But relationships within the Anglican Communion still are fragile, he said, "and we need B033 to stay in ubuntu [mutual] relationship with the rest of the Anglican Communion."
"We are damaging the body of Christ by insisting on our own way," said the Rev. Charles Holt (Central Florida). "This is not a faithful witness of the Gospel."
The Rev. Sharon Lewis (Southwest Florida) compared the church to an airplane with a right and left wing. If one wing is removed, she said, "the plane will spiral down."
The Rev. Diane Clark (Newark) who continued the airplane analogy, said that planes shook violently as they approached the sound barrier, prompting many to turn back. Only when pushing through that barrier did the plane experience "peace, silence and freedom."
The special session was part of the house's effort to give deputies an opportunity for conversation and discussion about the matter before any legislation comes before them. On July 9 deputies heard a special presentation from the Legislative Committee on World Mission, which is considering B033-related resolutions, and then engaged in 30 minutes of one-on-one conversation.