General Convention is a rare
experience! It is demanding of its participants. It can often be tedious and arduous
and at the same time deeply moving and inspirational. It sometimes feels like a
“zoo” - given the cultural, regional, ecclesiological and theological diversity
it embodies. It is the Church in all its glory and in all its fractiousness. I’ve
attended 4 General Conventions now, and I am truly convinced that there is
something holy about the gathering. Not holy as in “perfect.” But holy as in “blessed”
- that kind of favor of love that God bestows on a community of people who, in
all their finitude and fallibility, are willing to show up and struggle to be
Christ’s body in the world. It isn’t always pretty. But God loves us for trying,
even if we don’t always get it right, and that fact makes it holy.
As at all previous conventions, during
the 79th General Convention held in July in Austin, Texas, hundreds
of resolutions were taken up for debate and legislation. At the end of
convention there were four particular resolutions adopted that stand out as
having potential impact on our life together in Southern Virginia. Some
clarification about these seems in order.
1. Prayer Book Revision
General
Convention voted not to revise the
1979 Book of Common Prayer. In fact, it
passed a resolution to “memorialize” the Prayer Book – which, in essence, says
that for the next several years the BCP ‘79 is our standard for liturgy in the
Episcopal Church.
Having
established the ‘79 book as the norm, General Convention also affirmed the need
to create and authorize new supplemental liturgies for the Church to use
between now and when we do eventually revise the Prayer Book. These liturgies may include texts with
inclusive language and/or other expansive language changes, and new updated
non-English translations. As has always been the case, these new supplemental liturgies
will be for optional usage.
2. Marriage Rites
General
Convention voted to authorize the new marriage rites for same-sex and
opposite-sex couples as ‘trial use” liturgies.
The transition from being “proposed rites” to being “trial use” will
result in the liturgies becoming available for use by any clergy person who is
presently authorized to perform the BCP ‘79 marriage rite. In other words, soon
it will no longer be necessary for a priest to receive a bishop’s permission to
use the new marriage rites in his/her church.
In light of
the fact that a handful of bishops in the Church remain opposed to same-gender
marriage and do not presently allow any of their priests to marry same-sex
couples, General Convention established a special allowance. Rather than
violate their consciences, bishops who are opposed will designate another non-opposed
bishop to provide “pastoral support” to any couple desiring to be married with
the trial rites. This allowance is based on the general understanding that any same-gender
couple who qualifies for lawful marriage will have reasonable access to the
marriage rites no matter where they happen to reside.
Although I whole-heartedly
support same-gender marriage, I believe the alternate oversight option will
serve the Episcopal well, and model the kind of tolerance and openness to
differences in theology that is a hallmark of our great tradition.
To
summarize: As of Advent I, all clergy in Southern Virginia may use the trial
rites for marriage – including same-gender marriage - without permission from the
office of the Bishop. The normal diocesan
requirements for marriage after divorce will continue to apply as before. For
obvious pastoral reasons, it is recommended that all clergy continue be
diligent in their efforts to hold thoughtful theological conversations about
same-gender marriage with parish leadership – especially if the use of such
rites has not yet been introduced to the parish.
As has
always been the case, parish clergy with primary authority (rector, priest in
charge, etc.) are free to decide for themselves whether or not to perform any marriage – same-gender or otherwise.
In other words, no clergy person in the Episcopal Church is obliged to perform
any particular marriage.
3. Combating Sexual abuse/harassment
While there
were several resolutions around this very complex and important matter, all
were focused on making the Church environment safe for all people regardless of
gender or orientation. Perhaps paramount was the passing of the House of Bishops’
“Working Covenant” for the practice of equity and justice for all in the
Episcopal Church. An outgrowth of a
session of a “Liturgy of Listening”, at which bishops told the personal stories
of those who have suffered injustice in the church, the Covenant acknowledges that
the Church is not immune to abuse, harassment and exploitation of people of
varying gender, racial and cultural identities.
The covenant states that bishops will engage their diocesan cultures and
structures to ensure that all people are being treated fairly - in power
sharing, in wage equity, and in clergy deployment.
In the days
ahead it will be incumbent upon us to consider if we are actually being who we
claim to be in Southern Virginia – if our practice is in line and congruent
with our faith statements – especially in regard to our treatment of those whom we
employ and who serve us.
4. Diocese of Cuba
One of the
true highlights of General Convention was the unanimous vote - both in the
House of Deputies and the House of Bishops – to restore the relationship of the
Episcopal Church and La Iglesia Episcopal de Cuba. The resolution lamented the
actions of the House of Bishops that ejected the Diocese of Cuba from the
Episcopal Church in 1966 (Cuba was one of our missionary dioceses). For 50 plus years the Episcopal Church in
Cuba struggled alone - with the exception of occasional support from the Anglican
Church of Canada. And yet, for the past
50 years the Church of Cuba has considered itself part of the Episcopal Church,
hoping that one day its mother church would welcome it home.
One of the
most powerful moments occurred when the Bishop of Cuba was welcomed with
applause into the House of Bishops to sit at a table with her colleagues. It was an honor and privilege to witness such
an important moment of restoration. The joy in the face of the bishop was palpable
– as was the joy in the faces of those people who had traveled with her from
Cuba to witness and celebrate the return.
Perhaps the
Diocese of Southern Virginia will find some avenue in the future in which to
connect with and directly support the Episcopal Church in Cuba. I believe it could be a life-giving
experience for both dioceses.
As a final thought, I find that I
am particularly proud of Southern Virginia’s deputation - thinking especially
of our deputies’ dogged faithfulness to what proved to be a highly demanding 11
day legislative process. We owe our
deputies a debt of gratitude for their commitment of time and energy. Some of them even used their personal
vacation time to attend and serve the Church on our behalf.
And I also find that I am again very
proud of our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the steadfast and energetic
leadership that he offers the Church.
His great humor and affection and down-to-earth manner infused the
entire 11 day experience with a sense of thanksgiving and hopefulness, not to
mention his spirit-filled preaching lighting up the room!
The Episcopal Church is a
wonderful, special and unique part of the Jesus Movement. We truly have much to offer the world. For
those who were in attendance, this summer’s 79th General Convention
confirmed that fact once again.
+Holly
+Holly
