The Acts of Convention

House of Bishops

The House of Bishops Committee on Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music presented its Report #24 on Resolution A049 (Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution

(A049)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention commend "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" for study and use in congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention authorize for trial use "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" from "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" beginning the First Sunday of Advent 2012, under the direction of a bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church, including adaptation of the liturgy and declaration of intention contained in "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing"; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music develop an open process to review "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing," inviting responses from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals from throughout The Episcopal Church and from throughout the Anglican Communion, and report to the 78th General Convention.

Committee Amendment

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 77th General Convention commend "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" for study and use in congregations and dioceses of The Episcopal Church, with the following revisions:

Throughout "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" change "same-gender" to "same-sex";

BB p. 184 (Te bendecire pdf, p.1): change "Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships" to "Resources for The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant"

BB p. 240 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 83): Add rubric after first rubric, stating: "At least one of the couple must be a baptized Christian."

BB p. 240 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 83): In paragraph 2, line 1, delete "at least one of whom is baptized,"

BB p. 241 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider's address to the assembly, delete "come what may," (paragraph 1, line 9)

BB pp. 241-242 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider's address to the assembly, delete all of paragraph 2 ("Ahead of them...calls us all to share.")

BB p. 242 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 85): In Presider's address to the assembly, change "let us pray, then," (paragraph 3, line 1) to "Therefore, in the name of Christ, let us pray"

BB p. 245 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 90): After the bidding for peace in their home and love in their family, add the following bidding: “For the grace, when they hurt each other, to recognize and acknowledge their fault, and to seek each other’s forgiveness and yours: Lord, in your mercy (or Lord, in your goodness) Hear our prayer.”

BB p. 246 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 91): Change rubric that begins “After a time of silence” to the following: “The leader may add one or more of the following biddings”

BB p. 247 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 93): In Commitment (both forms) line 7, change “I will honor and keep you” to “I will honor and love you”

BB p. 248 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 94): In first form of blessing rings, change line 2 to “as signs of the enduring covenant”

BB p. 248 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 95): In Blessing of the Couple, add rubric between first and second paragraphs: “The Presider continues with one of the following”

BB p. 248 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 95): In Blessing of the Couple, add third paragraph after the “Amen”: “or this / God, the holy and undivided Trinity, bless, preserve, and keep you, and mercifully grant you rich and boundless grace, that you may please God in body and soul. God make you a sign of the loving-kindness and steadfast fidelity manifest in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior, and bring you at last to the delight of the heavenly banquet, where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.”

BB p. 257 (Te bendecire pdf, p. 104): In paragraph under E. Vocation, change “1 Samuel 18” to “1 Samuel 3”; and be it further

Resolved, That the 77th General Convention authorize for trial provisional use "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" from "Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing" beginning the First Sunday of Advent 2012, under the direction of a bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-sexgender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church, including adaptation of the liturgy and declaration of intention contained in "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing"; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops may authorize adaptation of these materials to meet the needs of members of this Church: and be it further

Resolved, that the provision of Canon I.18.4 applies by extension to “Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships,” namely, “It shall be within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to [preside at any rite of blessing defined herein]”; and be it further

Resolved, That no bishop, priest, deacon or lay person should be coerced or penalized in any manner, nor suffer any canonical disabilities, as a result of his or her conscientious objection to or support for the 77th General Convention’s action with regard to the Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships; and be it further

Resolved, That the theological resource for the blessing of a life-long covenant be further developed by the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music over the 2013-2015 triennium with specific attention to further engagement with scripture and the relevant categories and sources of systematic theology (e.g., creation, sin, grace, salvation, redemption, human nature); and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music include the work of diverse theological perspectives in the further development of the theological resource; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music develop an open process to review "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing," inviting responses from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals from throughout The Episcopal Church and from throughout the Anglican Communion, and from our ecumenical partners, and report to the 78th General Convention.

A roll call vote was called for.

The Bishop of Alabama proposed an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

In the fifth [sic] resolve clause, add “that this convention honor the theological diversity of this church in regard to matters of human sexuality, and.”

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Alabama amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Virginia proposed an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

In the first [sic] resolve clause, after “a Lifelong Covenant” add “in a same-sex relationship.”

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Virginia amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Oklahoma proposed an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

In the second resolve clause, after “under the direction” add “and subject to the permission of the”.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The Bishop of Milwaukee proposed an amendment.

Proposed Amendment

In the second resolve clause, delete “authorize for provisional use” and add “commend as part of our generous pastoral response”.

The question was called.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Milwaukee amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Chaplain Spellers offered prayer prior to the roll call vote.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message # 147)

Roll Call Vote on Resolution A049