The episcopal church and gay marriage
Episcopal Church says all queer couples can now commit in their home churches
The Episcopal Church removed restrictions on same-sex marriage Friday, making it so all couples can wed where they worship.
While they are already permitted across much of the Episcopal Church, the bishops in Middle Tennessee and seven other U.S. dioceses had not permitted religious wedding ceremonies for gay and queer woman couples in their regions of the church. The decision made Friday by the denomination's governing body overrides those local decisions.
The General Convention, which wrapped up its triennial meeting in Austin, Texas, on Friday, passed a resolution with overwhelming support that makes it so all couples can marry in their local congregations. They now do so under the direction of their priest, instead of their bishop.
"I am thrilled," said Connally Davies Penley, a member of All Sacraments for All People.
The local grassroots collective has been advocating for equal access to marriage within the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee since Bishop John Bauerschmidt announced his ban on same-sex weddings in
Under the resolution passed Friday, clergy still can decline to bless or solemnize
The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church today voted in favour of altering the church’s Canon on Marriage to delete the definition that marriage is between a human and a woman and add a new section that acknowledges that there are different understandings of marriage which now allows clergy to solemnise marriage between same sex couples as well as couples of the opposite sex. The revised canon also stipulates that no member of clergy will be required to solemnise a marriage against their conscience.
The voting was in three ‘houses’ of General Synod, namely Bishops, Clergy, Laity and required a two thirds majority to overtake. The voting results are as below.
Responding to the voting outcome, the Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church said:
“This is the end of a long journey. There was the Cascade Process involving people across our church &#; the Doctrine Committee paper which explored whether a Christian understanding of marriage could extend to same sex couples. We have studied, thought and prayed.
“In the life of the church, end points are often also starting points. This is a momentous s
History
Faithful Episcopalians have been productive toward a greater sympathetic and radical inclusion of all of God’s children for nearly a half-century. In , Louie Crew founded IntegrityUSA, a nonprofit group with the goal of full-inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in The Episcopal Church. The next General Convention, in , adopted resolutions stating that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church” (A), and that they “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens” (A).
Over the years, General Convention and Executive Council reaffirmed these resolutions, as well as calling the church to greater awareness, awareness, and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church. In response to the AIDS crisis, the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition was created in to provide education and support for HIV and AIDS ministries across The Episcopal Church.
In , General Convention amended the church’s canons to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, providing equal access to the rites and worship o
LGBTQ+ in the Church
For decades, LGBTQ+ Episcopalians and allies have worked to make The Episcopal Church a place of belonging and inclusion. We have prayed, studied, and discerned, and in doing so, we have seen the evidence of God&#;s blessing in the lives and love of our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ
In , we will honor the 50th anniversary of our church affirming that LGBTQ+ people have a full and equal claim to the love, acceptance, and pastoral care of the church. The journey to make that pledge a reality continues today, as we remember the struggles, celebrate the pleasure, and give thanks for love and for lives that refuse to be erased.
Today in The Episcopal Church, discernment for the ministries of bishop, priest, deacon, and lay direction is open to all without discrimination. We commemorate and give thanks for the beauty, strength, and sacred worth of Diverse leaders across all contexts and callings.
We invite you to join us on the journey. You belong. No exceptions.
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