Church blessings for same-sex couples likely from Advent 2012.
The Episcopal House of Bishops has approved liturgy for blessing committed, life-long same- sex unions. The measure must still be passed by the House of Deputies (representing clergy and laypeople), and will then come into effect in Advent 2012, for the start of the new liturgical year, and subject to review by 2015. Welcoming the decision, the Rev. Michael Louis Vono of the Diocese of the Rio Grande said, “It is the Jesus thing to do in our time.”
This is not yet full marriage equality in church, but it does distinctly narrow the gap. The point of the new liturgy is to provide a form of blessing which is not a marriage liturgy, but which closely resembles it, providing for each person t0 make a vow to the other, exchange rings and be declared “bound to one another in a holy covenant, as long as they both shall live.” In practical terms, the distinction is a fine one. In states where legal recognition of gay marriage already exists, some dioceses are already conducting church blessings for same - sex marriages (notably, in Boston cathedral last year, for the marriage of two senior lesbian priests. What this resolution does, is to provide standard language for use across the US. The language of the new rite and the existing marriage ceremony for opposite - sex couples may differ slightly, but both ensure that couples who wish to marry, can secure legal and religious recognition in a single ceremony.
The wording of the resolution, and the process behind it, display great care to build the greatest possible consensus on a controversial and potentially divisive issue. The provision permits use of the new liturgy, but does not require it. Local congregations wishing to use it must still secure the permission of the local bishop, and there is an explicit conscience clause, specifying that no member of the church shall be in any way penalized for refusing in conscience to participate in such a blessing. In some areas, some Episcopalian couples seeking a church blessing will find themselves unable to find a local priest willing and able to conduct one, but this is likely to dissipate over time. Before getting to the vote, the issue was carefully dissected in a committee hearing, at which over 40 people presented testimony on both sides (but supporters substantially outnumbering opponents). Fears that the decision could endanger the lives of Christians in Muslim countries were countered with the response that perceptions of Christian hostility were endangering the lives of gay and lesbian Christians, everywhere. Concerns that this is entrenching a second class status for LGBT couples, were balanced by fears that this was endorsing same - sex marriage, and placing the Episcopal Church outside the Christian mainstream.
”Outside the mainstream” is not the wording I would use, even if this is demonstrably still a minority position, and will surely create further difficulties for the global Anglican communion. When the first groups of Anglicans and other denominations began to ordain women as priests a few decades ago, they could have been accurately described as out of the mainstream - but would more accurately have been said to be in the vanguard. What was once a minority position, has become mainstream. Those that continue to resist women priests, are those that are now out of the mainstream. Episcopal support for blessing same - sex unions is part of a process, a well - established wider move towards marriage equality in the secular world, and to full LGBT inclusion in church.
Churches that bless same - sex unions are still a minority, but far from unique. The Lutheran churches in Scandinavia already celebrate full church weddings, on a basis of full equality, and so do the United Church and Unitarian Universalists in the US and the MCC wherever the law permits. Last week, the Presbyterian General Assembly only just failed to secure approval for a non-discriminatory definition of marriage, and many individual clergymen and women (including a few Catholic priests) are known to conduct gay weddings, even where denominational rules prohibit it.
Pioneers are always out of the mainstream, but in the not too distant future, it will be those resisting full inclusion who can most accurately be described by that epithet.
(Source: The factual content for this post is drawn primarily from the report at USNews/MSNBC, summarized and rephrased, which was the first I found with more than a few lines. The comment is my own).
Related articles
- Episcopal bishops approve same-sex marriage rites (usnews.msnbc.msn.com)
- Episcopalians set to be first big US church to bless gay marriage (guardian.co.uk)
- Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania would offer same-sex blessings (pennlive.com)
- Presbyterians Reject Same-Sex Marriage By Thirty Votes (lezgetreal.com)
