Ms. [Bonnie] Perry directly addressed the question of her sexuality at two points in her responses to the diocese’s nominating committee. In a one-page autobiography, she referred to the relationship by writing, “The Rev. Susan Harlow, my partner now of 22 years, and I moved to Chicago in 1992.”
In response to a question about individual and diocesan discernment regarding the next bishop, Ms. Perry mentioned that she stood for election in the Diocese of California in 2006 but has declined other opportunities since then.
“Until yours, I have not read a compelling diocesan theology,” she wrote. “I am also aware in the current worldwide Anglican climate it may be very difficult for me, an out, partnered lesbian, to be elected and/or to receive consents. … I am entering this discernment process now because I was invited and because your vision of a spiritually transformed, culturally appropriate, networked diocese has made me cry with hope for what could be.”
In response to a question that mentions the diocese’s wish to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, the other two nominees affirmed that wish.
You have to admit it’s amazing logic. The apparachiks in the Episcopal Church posit TEC has not violated the moritoria imposed by the Windsor Report and codified in B033 by enacting C056 and D025 because the moritoria are in still in place until an openly gay candidate not only is elected but is actually consecrated. Otherwise TEC is being castigated for something it hasn’t really done yet—its kind of like deposing Bishop Duncan for abandonment of communion before the Diocese of Pittsburgh actually voted to realign.