I’ve been in the know on this for a couple of weeks, but didn’t blog about it here because — well, it’s likely to be getting all too much press and other coverage over the next weeks/months.
And to that end, I’ll decline to go into backstory of the sort that would be liable to end up being quoted somewhere in the press should this site be stumbled upon by someone. It’s not secret stuff, by any means, but in a brouhaha like this, stuff happens.
Same-sex event at church has conservatives seeking answers
Actually, plenty of folks seeking “answers” on this. But there are indeed some folks who are seeking answers they can use to further an end.
It wasn’t a same-sex blessing – but it was close enough that conservative Episcopalians are demanding to know from Bishop Rob O’Neill what happened last weekend at the Good Shepherd parish in Centennial.
A church official confirmed Thursday that the parish hosted a same-sex celebration in honor of Bonnie Spencer, an assistant pastor at the church, and her partner.
Spencer said she would have no comment until she spoke to O’Neill, who is out of town until next week. She added, however, that “there was no same-sex blessing.”
That is, in fact, in keeping with the information I have (and have every reason to believe). And saying that the “parish hosted” the celebration is perhaps overstating matters. The couple, and two witnesses each, were allowed use of the sanctuary on a Saturday, with the permission of the rector. No others were present.
The Rev. Lou Blanchard, who is the overseer of the region that includes the parish, said she was informed as “a matter of common courtesy” of the celebration.
“They had a party celebrating their relationship,” Blanchard said. Since she did not attend, Blanchard said she didn’t know what form the celebration took, or whether a spiritual ceremony was involved.
In point of fact, to avoid appearances of a formal church blessing, clergy were specifically instructed not to attend the event. Which, for something involving a priest, is greatly unfortunate.
Blanchard said that several months ago O’Neill denied the couple permission to perform a same-sex blessing. The bishop could not be reached for comment.
Same-sex blessings have been approved by the Episcopal Church USA, a move that has outraged conservatives in the denomination. While he supports same-sex issues, O’Neill promised conservatives he would not even consider moving ahead on developing such liturgies until after he had been in office six months. He took office in January.
Actually, the General Convention did not “approve” same-sex blessings, but acknowledged that they have been occuring, declined to condemn them, and continued to leave the matter as a “local option” to bishops while the church strives to reach consensus on the matter.
As a buzz began to build this week over what happened at Good Shepherd, a number of letters were sent to O’Neill asking exactly what happened at the 800-member parish, according to the Rev. Ephraim Radner, a writer, theologian and pastor of the Ascension parish in Pueblo.
“People are all wondering what’s going on,” Radner said.
Perhaps they should have asked the principles — Bonnie, or the parish rector, rather than just “wondering” aloud.
Speaking only as a parishioner, from my understanding of the events and the people involved, I don’t believe anything wrong or improper have occured — and, in fact, that this should be a time of joy and celebration for the couple involved. I suspect that some folk, however, will have a differing opinion, and that some will make it a fairly ugly mess.
And that’s probably all I should say at the moment, at least in this venue.
Yeah, I wondered about that this morning when I read it in the Rocky.
And thanks for sending me the link. I’d been told that a Rocky reporter had contacted Bonnie yesterday, but hadn’t know whether the story would be there today, or in the usual Relgion section on Saturdays.
Torkelson does little things that come up through out the week (little as in the size of the article that she wrote linked above).
As well as a big article in the Saturday edition, and a “Visit” the X person, church, religion, or congragation story in the monday edition.
I’ll definitely have to check in tomorrow.
Bishop O’Neill is at “bishop’s school” this week. It will be an interesting test of his episcopate how he handles this first brouhaha.
I read some interesting polling material on the whole issue of same sex marriage in the U.S. While it’s still frowned on by a majority of folks over 40, once you get into the 20-somethings, they just don’t see what the big deal is.
It looks as if within a generation–when the older folks start to die off and the younger folks come into positions of status–that what is now a contentious issue will be settled quietly.
But in the meantime …
I’m sorry there’s a brouhaha but pleased that things have shifted enough that your assistant pastor can be open about her sexuality. How cool is that, eh?
Me? I think it’s pretty cool.
And it’s nice to think I’m, ah, young at heart.
Alas, we have to live with the contentiousness now. Which, I must believe, is not what the founder of the church would want us to be doing with our time.
After reading some of the nasties on the web about your assoc. rector, its a blessing to finally read your blogs. Y’all obviously hold her and each other in much love and care.
During these troubling times, it’s important that we remember what started the Christian church in the first place. Love.