The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The President announced that the clerical and lay deputations from Central Florida, Springfield, Albany, and Dallas requested that the vote on Resolution B012 be a vote by orders.

The House of Deputies Committee to Receive the Report of Resolution A169 presented its Report #2 on Resolution B012 (Marriage Rites for the Whole Church) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(B012)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention authorize for continued trial use, in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Canon II.3.6, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2” (from “Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing, Revised and Expanded 2015”); and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention authorize for trial use, in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Canon II.3.6, “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2” and “An Order for Marriage 2” (as appended to the report of the Task Force for the Study of Marriage to the 79th General Convention), beginning the first Sunday of Advent 2018; and be it further

Resolved, That the period of trial use for these liturgies shall extend without limit of time; and be it further

Resolved, That “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2” and “An Order for Marriage 2” be published in a revised and expanded 2018 version of “Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing,” and made available electronically in English, Spanish, and French at no cost by the first Sunday of Advent 2018; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations and worshipping communities of this Church that understand themselves called to incorporate these liturgies into their common life, are authorized to do so by the rector or priest-in-charge (Canon III.9.6), and are permitted to do so by civil law, shall have access to these liturgies, under the direction of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That where diocesan canons or bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority do not authorize the use of these liturgies for persons of the same sex, congregations may request, and when requesting shall receive delegated episcopal pastoral oversight (DEPO) by a bishop of this Church who shall provide access to these liturgies, as permitted by civil law; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops continue the work of leading the Church in comprehensive engagement with these materials and continue to provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music study and monitor the ongoing trial use of these rites, and report and make recommendations to the 80th General Convention on any modifications or additions that may be judged advisable; and be it further

Resolved, That the provision of Canon I.18.7 applies by extension to these liturgies, namely, “It shall be within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to solemnize or bless any marriage”; and be it further

Resolved, That the provisions of Canon I.19.3 regarding marriage after divorce apply equally to these liturgies, in accordance with guidelines established by each diocese or bishop exercising delegated oversight; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church continue to honor theological diversity in regard to matters of human sexuality; and that no lay person, bishop, priest, or deacon should be coerced or penalized in any manner, nor suffer any canonical disabilities, as a result of his or her theological support for or objection to the 79th General Convention’s action pertaining to this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention direct the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint jointly a Task Force on Communion across Difference, consisting of not more than 14 people, who represent the diversity in this Church with respect to cultural background, age, race, gender, and sexual orientation, including members from countries other than the United States, half of whom hold that marriage is a “covenant between a man and a woman” (BCP, 422), half of whom hold that marriage is a “covenant between two people” in the presence of God (Resolution 2018-A085), and all of whom seek a pathway toward mutual flourishing in The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force seek a lasting path forward for mutual flourishing consistent with this Church’s polity and the 2015 “Communion across Difference” statement of the House of Bishops, affirming (1) the clear decision of General Convention that Christian marriage is a covenant open to two people of the same sex or of the opposite sex, (2) its firm commitment to make provision for all couples asking to be married in this Church to have access to authorized liturgies; and also affirming (3) the indispensable place that the minority who hold to this Church’s historic teaching on marriage have in our common life, whose witness our Church needs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force consult widely with members of this Church who represent its diversity of cultural background, age, race, gender, and sexual orientation, particularly its members in countries other than the United States; and also with representatives from the Anglican Communion, our full-communion ecumenical partners, and those churches with whom we carry on ecumenical dialogues; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force report and make recommendations to the 80th General Convention, ending its term at that time except by further action of General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $90,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention authorize for continued trial use, in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Canon II.3.6, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2” (as appended to the report of the Task Force for the Study of Marriage to the 79th General Conventionfrom “Liturgical Resources I: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing, Revised and Expanded 2015”); and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention authorize for trial use, in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Canon II.3.6, “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2” and “An Order for Marriage 2” (as appended to the report of the Task Force for the Study of Marriage to the 79th General Convention), beginning the first Sunday of Advent 2018; and be it further

Resolved, That the period of trial use for these liturgies shall extend until the completion of the next comprehensive revision of the Book of Common Prayerwithout limit of time; and be it further

Resolved, That the SCLM monitor the use of these rites as part of their work of revising the Book of Common Prayer; and be it further

Resolved, That the material prepared by the TFSM with regard to paragraph one of “Concerning the Service” of Marriage, the proper prefaces for Marriage and the Catechism be referred to the SCLM for serious consideration as they engage in the process of revision of the Book of Common Prayer; and be it further

Resolved, That “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2” and “An Order for Marriage 2” be published in a revised and expanded 2018 version of “Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing,” and all of this material be authorized for publication as part of Liturgical Resources 2 (as appended to the report of the TFSM) and be made available electronically in English, Spanish, andFrench, and Haitian Creole at no cost by the first Sunday of Advent 2018; and be it further

Resolved, That all congregations and worshipping communities of this Church who desirethat understand themselves called to incorporate these liturgies into their common life, are authorized to do so by the rector or priest-in under the direction of the Rector or Member of the Clergy in charge (Canon III.9.6), and where are permitted to do so by civil law, shall have access to these liturgies, allowing all couples to be married in their home church under the direction of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That the provision of Canon I.18.7 applies by extension to these liturgies, namely, “It shall be within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to solemnize or bless any marriage”; and be it further

Resolved, That the provisions of Canon I.19.3 regarding marriage after divorce apply equally to these liturgies; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority, or where appropriate ecclesiastical supervision, who hold a theological position that does not embrace marriage for same sex couples, shall in the case of remarriage after divorce, invite another bishop of this Church to oversee the consent process and to receive any report of such Marriages, as provided in Canon I.19.3(c); and be it further

Resolved, That where diocesan canons or bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority do not authorize the use of these liturgies for persons of the same sex, congregations may request, and when requesting shall receive delegated episcopal pastoral oversight (DEPO) by a bishop of this Church who shall provide access to these liturgies, as permitted by civil law; and be it further

Resolved, That bishops continue the work of leading the Church in comprehensive engagement with these materials and continue to provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music study and monitor the ongoing trial use of these rites, and report and make recommendations to the 80th General Convention on any modifications or additions that may be judged advisable; and be it further

Resolved, That the provision of Canon I.18.7 applies by extension to these liturgies, namely, “It shall be within the discretion of any Member of the Clergy of this Church to decline to solemnize or bless any marriage”; and be it further

Resolved, That the provisions of Canon I.19.3 regarding marriage after divorce apply equally to these liturgies, in accordance with guidelines established by each diocese or bishop exercising delegated oversight; and be it further

Resolved, That this Church continue to honor theological diversity in regard to matters of human sexuality; and that no lay person, bishop, priest, or deacon should be coerced or penalized in any manner, nor suffer any canonical disabilities, as a result of his or her theological support for or objection to the 79th General Convention’s action pertaining to this resolution;and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget, and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $100,000 for the implementation of this resolution; and be it further

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention direct the Secretary of General Convention and the Custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer, in consultation with the outgoing Chair of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage and the Chairs of the Legislative Committees to whom this legislation is referred, to finalize and arrange with Church Publishing for the publication (in English, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole) of the material contained in “Liturgical Resources 2” as approved by the 79th General Convention; the General Convention Office to make these materials available electronically at no cost no later than the first Sunday of Advent 2018.

Resolved, That the 79th General Convention direct the Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies to appoint jointly a Task Force on Communion across Difference, consisting of not more than 14 people, who represent the diversity in this Church with respect to cultural background, age, race, gender, and sexual orientation, including members from countries other than the United States, half of whom hold that marriage is a “covenant between a man and a woman” (BCP, 422), half of whom hold that marriage is a “covenant between two people” in the presence of God (Resolution 2018-A085), and all of whom seek a pathway toward mutual flourishing in The Episcopal Church; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force seek a lasting path forward for mutual flourishing consistent with this Church’s polity and the 2015 “Communion across Difference” statement of the House of Bishops, affirming (1) the clear decision of General Convention that Christian marriage is a covenant open to two people of the same sex or of the opposite sex, (2) its firm commitment to make provision for all couples asking to be married in this Church to have access to authorized liturgies; and also affirming (3) the indispensable place that the minority who hold to this Church’s historic teaching on marriage have in our common life, whose witness our Church needs; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force consult widely with members of this Church who represent its diversity of cultural background, age, race, gender, and sexual orientation, particularly its members in countries other than the United States; and also with representatives from the Anglican Communion, our full-communion ecumenical partners, and those churches with whom we carry on ecumenical dialogues; and be it further

Resolved, That the Task Force report and make recommendations to the 80th General Convention, ending its term at that time except by further action of General Convention; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $90,000 for the implementation of this resolution.

Deputies asked questions of the committee during the time allotted by the special order.

When the time allotted for questions ended, debate ensued.

The President noted that the time for the legislative session to end had come and that debate on Resolution B012 would continue at the next legislative session.

The time for debate on Resolution B012 (Marriage Rites for the Whole Church) continued.

Deputy Humphrey of Rhode Island moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Remove the seventh and eleventh resolve clauses and add the following after the sixth resolve clause:

Resolved, That all congregations and worshipping communities of this Church who desire to incorporate these Trial Use liturgies into their common life, are authorized to do so by the rector or priest-in-charge (Canon III.9.6), and where permitted by civil law, shall have access to these liturgies, under the direction of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority; and be it further

Resolved, That where diocesan canons or bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority do not authorize the use of these liturgies for persons of the same sex, congregations may request, and when requesting shall receive, that they be entrusted to the pastoral care and spiritual responsibility of another bishop of this Church who shall provide access to these liturgies, as permitted by civil law; and be it further

Add the following after the tenth resolve clause:

Resolved, That the provisions of Canon I.19.3 regarding marriage after divorce apply equally to these liturgies, in accordance with guidelines established by each diocese or bishop designated as chief liturgical officer for a congregation; and be it further

A vote was taken on the amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Seitz of West Virginia moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Remove the eighth and sixteenth resolve clauses, as well as the following text from the seventh resolve clause: "allowing all couples to be married in their home church".

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Ammons of Florida moved Deputy Singleton of Florida's amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

In the first resolve clause, delete "trial" and "in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Canon II.3.6" and add "in the Book of Occasional Services (Libro de Ritos Ocasionales)" following "use,". Delete the second and third resolve clauses. In the sixth resolve clause, delete "Liturgical Resources 2" and replace with "Book of Occasional Services (Libro de Ritos Ocasionales)". In the eighteenth resolve clause, delete "Liturgical Resources 2" and replace with "Book of Occasional Services (Libro de Ritos Ocasionales)".

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Hayes of California moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Remove the seventh resolve clause and replace with the following:

Resolved, That under the canonical direction of the Rector or Member of the Clergy in charge and where permitted to do so by civil law, provision will be made for all couples desiring to use these marriage liturgies in their local congregation or worshipping community; and be it further

Resolved, That in dioceses where the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority (or, where applicable, ecclesiastical supervision) holds a theological position that does not embrace marriage for same-sex couples, and there is a desire to use such rites by same-sex couples in a congregation or worshipping community, the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority (or ecclesiastical supervision) shall invite, as necessary, another bishop of this Church to provide pastoral support to the couple, the Member of the Clergy involved and the congregation or worshipping community in order to fulfill the intention of this resolution that all couples have convenient and reasonable local congregational access to these rites; and be it further

The President announced that the time for debate on the amendment and the resolution had ended.

Deputy Dinwiddie of Michigan moved to extend the time for debate by four minutes.

Motion defeated

An electronic vote was taken on the amendment, resulting in 505 yes votes and 329 no votes.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Ballot #3 - Vote by Orders

A Vote by Orders was taken on Resolution B012.

Ballot #3 taken by orders

Prayers

The President called on the Chaplain for prayers.

Results of Ballot #3: Vote By Orders of Resolution B012

The President read the results of Ballot #3.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #111)

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee to Receive the Report of Resolution A169 presented its Report #13 on HB Message #267 on Resolution B012 (Marriage Rites for the Whole Church) and moved concurrence.

Ballot #8 - Vote by Orders

A Vote by Orders was taken on Resolution B012.

Ballot #8 taken by orders

Results of Ballot #8: Vote By Orders of Resolution B012

The Secretary read the results of Ballot #8.

Motion carried

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #372)