[Bishop Ted] Gulick contended that the 2006 “restraint” pledge remains in effect.
“The moratorium would end at such a time as the Episcopal Church elected a gay or lesbian individual in a partnered relationship to be a bishop, and then consecrated him or her,” Gulick said.
If a diocese did so, bishops and diocesan committees would have to confirm the vote. Gulick said he would carefully weigh the candidate’s faith and “what gifts in ministry they have demonstrated.”
“But then I would also have to in my own prayerful concern take the impact of this on the community into my own discernment,” he added. That impact, Gulick said, was a key reason he recently voted not to approve the ordination of Northern Michigan Bishop-elect Kevin Thew Forrester.
A “moritorium” that exists simply because there has not been an opportunity to violate it and is violated is not a moritorium, nor is it “gracious restraint.”
There has not been a moritorium on the consecration of GLBT bishops in TEC. There simply has not been an opportunity to prove that to the Communion.
YBIC,
Phil Snyder