At our convention in November 2009, I announced my intention to permit the blessing of same-gender unions in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, beginning in Easter of 2010. At that time, I named a task force of clergy and laity whom I asked to assist me in working out the procedures and requirements related to this policy. Here, once again, are the members of the task force: The Rev, Douglas Argue, The Rev. Trevor Babb, The Rev. William Carroll, Joe Dehner, Esq., The Rev. Pam Elwell, The Rev. George Hill, Nanci Koepke, The Rev. Eileen O’Reilly, Dr. Gail Payne, Dr. Don Reed, Dr. Marti Rideout, A. J Stack, and Lisa Wharton, Esq.
As I said at the time, this was not a collection of people who were necessarily eager to see Southern Ohio move in the direction of same-gender unions. Some were; some weren’t. Once gathered, however, they dug into the hard questions with great courage and mutual respect.
This group has gone far beyond my initial request in stating the theological convictions that underlie the policy, in developing a rite of blessing for trial use, and in providing web and print resources for congregational and individual study. I am extremely grateful for their work ”“ not only for its outcome, which will contribute significantly to the Episcopal Church’s reflection on same-gender unions, but also for the charity, honesty and devotion to the Gospel that was so beautifully modeled in their conversations with one another.
The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal
Bishop, Diocese of Southern Ohio
Read it all and follow all the links–KSH.
“If same-gender unions are defined by
substantially similar goals and vows and blessed in the context of a similar liturgy, then the sacramental
reality is the same, or at least very similar and in no sense inferior.”
So why this continual dance around it? You fool no one. You’ll get there within a few years (at most) anyway. Don’t you dare deny the goal. Just call it “marriage” and send the TEC out in a hail of blasphemous bullets. Better to burn out than it is to rust.
I’m really tired of this disingenuous effort at sparing conservative belief, chipping away with all of this “respect and charity” and pretending, in any way, to care.
Umm, I think he needs to re-read his ordination and consecration vows. But of course, maybe they mean something different than they did when he became a bishop.
This “blessing” sounds like a “wedding” to me. Doesn’t “blessing” assume that something (a wedding, perhaps) has gone before?