The other Episcopalian shoe drops

If you think the Episcopal Church General Convention opening the door to ordaining more gay bishops* was going to cause a furor in some conservative Anglican quarters, get a load of this:

Today (Wednesday) the House of Bishops passed C056 by a vote of 104 to 30. Here is what that resolution said:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 76th General Convention acknowledge the changing circumstances in the United States and in other nations, as legislation authorizing or forbidding marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships for gay and lesbian persons is passed in various civil jurisdictions that call forth a renewed pastoral response from this Church, and for an open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships; and be it further 

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, collect and develop theological, and liturgical resources and report to the 77th General Convention; and be it further 

Resolved, That the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, devise an open process for the conduct of its work inviting participation from provinces, dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are engaged in such theological work, and inviting theological reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion; and be it further 

Resolved, That bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender 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 this Convention honor the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters of human sexuality; and be it further 

Resolved, That the members of this Church be encouraged to engage in this effort. 

And this:

Resolution C056 has now been passed by the House of Deputies. The voting was Lay: 78 yes, 23 no, 7 divided. Clergy: 74 yes, 27 no, 7 divided. The text is here.

That’s not quite blessing of gay marriage in the Episcopal Church … yet. But we’re a liturgical denomination, and when we start studying liturgy and music for same-sex blessings, that means we’re darned serious about it. The canons may still define marriage as “one man with one woman,” but that’s another battle for another day — that whole “generous pastoral response” gives a lot of leeway for bishops to do what they see fit in blessing or supporting same-sex unions, in conjunction with local civil law. 

Much good here, and, perhaps, an end to the dithering on the subject by the church.** I’m glad to see it, and I look for forward to seeing what happens in the coming months and years, both in the Episcopal Church as a whole, and in the Diocese of Colorado in particular.

* The growing consensus about D025 is that it did not so much raise any moratorium — which didn’t really exist — but that the call for “restraint” and consideration from the previous General Convention’s B033 is now down at the local level, rather than being imposed from above, and with the understanding that, dagnabbit, gays and lesbians aren’t pariahs but part and parcel of our congregations and God’s church.  Imagine that. 

** The oddest set of arguments — from many on opposition to C056 — was that conservatives are leaving the church, “voting with their feet.” Funny — I had no idea that virtue and justice and God’s will were a popularity contest. If we become a smaller church by doing right — we’ll still be doing right. If the cost of growth or even keeping to our current numbers is injustice and turning our backs on our gay and lesbian brethren, then it’s not worth it.