The Acts of Convention

Resolved, 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";

Blue Book p. 184: change "Resources for Blessing Same-Gender Relationships" to "Resources for The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant in a same-sex relationship"

Blue Book p. 240: Add rubric after first rubric, stating: "At least one of the couple must be a baptized Christian."

Blue Book p. 240: In paragraph 2, line 1, delete "at least one of whom is baptized,"

Blue Book p. 241: In Presider's address to the assembly, delete "come what may," (paragraph 1, line 9)

Blue Book pp. 241-242: In Presider's address to the assembly, delete all of paragraph 2 ("Ahead of them...calls us all to share.")

Blue Book p. 242: 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"

Blue Book p. 245: 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.”

Blue Book p. 246: Change rubric that begins “After a time of silence” to the following: “The leader may add one or more of the following biddings”

Blue Book p. 247: In Commitment (both forms) line 7, change “I will honor and keep you” to “I will honor and love you”

Blue Book p. 248: In first form of blessing rings, change line 2 to “as signs of the enduring covenant”

Blue Book p. 248: In Blessing of the Couple, add rubric between first and second paragraphs: “The Presider continues with one of the following”

Blue Book p. 248: 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.”

Blue Book p. 257: 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 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 and subject to the permission of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-sex marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; 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 this convention honor the theological diversity of this church in regard to matters of human sexuality, and 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 the Anglican Communion, and from our ecumenical partners, and report to the 78th General Convention.