Kansas Bishop Approves Limited Plan for Blessing Non-married Couples
Episcopal News Service. June 29, 2002 [2002-168]
Melodie Woerman, Editor of Plenteous Harvest, the newspaper of the Diocese of Kansas
(ENS) Bishop William Smalley of Kansas has informed clergy that he will begin authorizing the limited blessing of non-married persons. This policy would extend to heterosexual couples for whom marriage would create a financial hardship, and homosexual couples.
Smalley was emphatic in stating this blessing is not to be a substitute for Holy Matrimony and may not resemble it liturgically.
The policy calls for consensus between the vestry of a parish and its rector before application can be made to Smalley, who would authorize the blessing. That application must include notice that one of the people seeking blessing is a member of the parish, the form of the liturgy to be used and details of a plan for pastoral care for those in the parish who are not in agreement.
Smalley, who has announced he will retire Jan. 1, 2004, said this policy is his and does not bind his successor. He said he based his decision on the action of General Convention in 2000 in adopting resolution D039, in which the church "acknowledged" that some church members were living in life-long committed relationships outside of marriage. He said he believes offering the church's blessing to such couples is part of that acknowledgement.
Smalley, citing the 38 years of marriage he and his wife Carole have shared, said they have benefitted from the prayerful support of a loving Christian community. "(We) have grown in our love and faith, in large part because of the church's blessing and support." He said he did not want to deny that same support, through the blessing of the church, to those who cannot choose marriage. He said, "I come to my decision in part out of pastoral care for these people, but also because of the example I see in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus in his incarnation cared deeply for all people and had a special care for those denied the fullness of life."
Smalley said he believes Kansas is the first diocese to offer blessings to heterosexual as well as homosexual couples, based on the language of resolution D039.
In an interview after the policy was made public to parish clergy, Smalley said he has wrestled with this decision for many years. "This has been a long struggle for me," he said. "Since General Convention it has been a daily struggle in my prayers. I can say this decision was reached prayerfully."
Quoting the gospel story of the woman caught in adultery, the bishop noted that Jesus did not condemn her but told her to "Go and sin no more." The question he said then becomes, "What does Jesus define as sin? Is this particular behavior sinful? That is the question for the church." Smalley said he sides with medical evidence indicating homosexuality is a human condition. "Some people are just created that way," he said.
However, he noted the possibility his position may be in error. "I may be wrong in my view, and if so, I am prepared to face my Lord and say I was wrong. I may be judged for that, and I am prepared for that," he said.
Smalley also said he believes the church is called to ask what Scripture and the Anglican tradition mean today. He noted the church has over time reinterpreted Jesus' injunction against divorce and now permits divorced persons to remarry. In issuing this policy, Smalley said he does not believe he is departing from Scripture. "I think I am joining with the church in asking what God is saying to the church now," he said.
He said he thinks three parishes in the diocese may use the policy for blessing homosexual couples. He was unsure how many may seek authorization for blessing heterosexual couples under the policy's provisions. Smalley said he believes most such couples will be older people who would lose a pension or disability benefit from a deceased spouse if they marry, harming those on limited incomes.
Smalley said he understands not all people in the diocese will support this policy. In response to their concerns, he said he would remind them that no parish has to make use of this option, which requires agreement between the elected leadership of a parish and its rector before plans can proceed.
He also said, in spite of any opposition, he trusts members of the Diocese of Kansas will remain in communion with one another and with him. "I see we are called to be a community which honors marriage as a sacrament and honors people who are different and not withhold the church's blessing from them. We stay in contact and communication with each other. It's about keeping communion."