Church Commission Launches Sexuality Study
Episcopal News Service. August 19, 1992 [92175]
Sexuality issues, including sexual abuse and gay and lesbian concerns, soon may appear on every parish agenda. A national steering committee established by General Convention, which asked for a churchwide study on sexuality issues and a pastoral letter from the bishops, has announced plans for an every-parish dialogue, beginning with training sessions for diocesan leaders in September and October.
One bishop, a lay delegate and an ordained person from each of the nine provinces serve on the national steering committee. They will direct, supervise and report the results of the dialogue to Bishop Richard Grein of New York, who chairs the committee charged with preparing a pastoral teaching on sexuality for consideration at the 1994 General Convention.
The parish dialogues are not intended to confront people or seek to change the minds of participants. "What we are proposing quite obviously amounts to a shift in Episcopal behavior," said Bishop O'Kelley Whitaker, convener of the committee. "The purpose is not really to persuade others to think like us, but rather to develop an understanding and, perhaps, appreciation of each other."
Past debate and legislative efforts on sexuality issues, Whitaker believes, have only brought the church deeper division and more entrenched positions. "Our goal is to enable every parish, either on their own or with a number of others, to engage in dialogue...in an atmosphere of listening to and understanding others who speak, rather than focusing on changing one another's mind or simply winning," he said.
The steering committee recommends that parishes use either of two resources for their five-week study. Human Sexuality: A Christian Perspective, produced by a professional organization for Province 7, discusses sexuality as it relates to the family, the church and the social order. Human Sexuality and the Christian Faith, produced by the Division for Church in Society for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, addresses specific issues of sexual abuse, gay and lesbian relationships and sexual relationships outside of marriage.
A revised version of the Lutheran edition will include a chapter by Bishop Edward Jones of Indianapolis, dealing with Anglican perspectives on sexuality, which will replace a chapter on Lutheran perspectives.
"It is not our intention to inhibit work already under way," said Whitaker, acknowledging that some dioceses responded to the convention's resolution months ago. "It is to encourage all dioceses to respond to the call of General Convention. We will coordinate the work of the various dioceses so that there is a common base for shared learning."
The process, Whitaker said, also may enable the church to deal with other issues that divide it. "Our unity is in Christ, not in full agreement [with one another]," he asserted.
Three regional weekend workshops will be conducted September 18-20 in Washington, D.C., October 2-4 in Atchison, Kansas, and October 24-26 in Burlingame, California. Diocesan leaders then will train members of parishes who will lead the dialogues. The congregational study will take place in five sessions between December 1, 1992, and April 1993.