Resolutions Put Sex on General Convention Agenda
Episcopal News Service. June 6, 1997 [97-1794]
Mary Lee B. Simpson, Editor of the Southwestern Episcopalian Newspaper of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
(ENS) Much like the energizer bunny, the Episcopal Church's dialogue on human sexuality keeps on going... and going... and going.
And it's going right on to Philadelphia, during a General Convention that is laden already with far-reaching and historical, energy-consuming deliberations for deputies and bishops: the election of a new presiding bishop, restructure of the church, full communion with the Lutherans, and the extension of women's ordination in all dioceses, to name a few.
"I don't have much optimism that we'll make much progress this General Convention," said the Rev. Jane N. Garrett, deputy from the Diocese of Vermont and cochair of the Committee for Dialogue on Human Sexuality. "I don't sense that sex is the big issue this year."
Though sex may not be the big topic this time around, there will still be plenty of it on the convention's agenda.
The 15-page report on the blessing of same-sex relationships, prepared collaboratively by members of the Standing Liturgical Commission (SLC) and the theology committee of the House of Bishops, outlines four options for the church to consider: continue emphasizing the teaching that the right and proper context for genital sexual relations is within heterosexual marriage; ask the SLC to devise a rite of marriage to be authorized for use equally with heterosexual or homosexual couples; ask the SLC to develop a rite that would bestow the church's official blessing on same-sex unions, though in a manner that is clearly not the same as marriage; or accept the ambiguity and affirm the duty of local pastors to respond pastorally.
The report will go to a convention committee that will consider it and recommend a response for convention, though what kind of response is anybody's guess.
In addition, seven proposed resolutions -- all tentative at this time -- are expected. Two, coming from the Dioceses of Pennsylvania and Missouri, request the creation and dissemination of rites for the blessing of committed relationships between persons of the same sex.
Three, from the Dioceses of El Camino Real, Newark and New York, call for the Church Pension Fund to extend benefits now available only to clergy spouses to life partners of gay and lesbian clergy as well.
Once again, the Diocese of El Camino Real is asking General Convention to direct the church's Medical Trust to offer health coverage to unmarried domestic partners. Although bishops and deputies in Indianapolis three years ago agreed that gay and lesbian couples need legal rights to health and pension benefits and called on local and national legislatures to grant such protection, they denied such coverage for partners of church employees. In a ballot by orders, the resolution failed by only a few votes in each order.
Bishops and deputies may also endure some lengthy deliberations with two other proposed resolutions dealing with changes in the canons. One is an amendment to prohibit clergy from sexual relations outside marriage, offered by Bishop William C. Wantland of the Diocese of Eau Claire. The other is an amendment defining "immorality" to include all forms of sexual intercourse between unmarried people.
And to keep the dialogue going after Philadelphia comes this resolution from the Committee for Dialogue on Human Sexuality: that the dialogue continue, on a voluntary basis.
"The most important thing our committee learned is that top-down dialogue doesn't work," said Garrett. "People were deeply suspicious because of the top-down approach. Leadership is crucial but it must come from the local and diocesan levels."
The committee, formed by the 1994 General Convention in Indianapolis, was asked to devise ways to encourage use of the bishops' "Continuing the Dialogue" study document throughout the church. The document emerged from attempts by the House of Bishops to write a definitive pastoral letter.
From an extensive survey of dioceses studying the bishops' document and other human sexuality resources, the group also learned that energy on dialoguing is waning.
People are weary of being told they have to discuss this topic, according to the committee's Blue Book report. Some equate "dialogue" with "debate" or "deadlock," the report notes. Dialogue is often seen as a way of furthering "their" agenda whoever "they" may be. And people are confused about what they are dialoguing about.
Whatever does or does not happen in Philadelphia, the questions and the struggles will keep on going... and going... and going.