The new document essentially preserves the current status quo within The Episcopal Church, according to several bishops who were present. In the media briefing Bishop Bruno said the document in no way represented a “turning back of the clock. Gays and lesbians are fully enfranchised in our life,” he noted.
Bishop Bruno was questioned closely by journalists attending the briefing on whether there would be any change to the current policy on same-sex blessings, which is determined by General Convention Resolution C051 approved in 2003. That resolution states in part “that local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.”
At one point in response to a question by a reporter from The New York Times, Bishop Bruno said “same-sex blessings do not occur in my diocese with my permission.” The media briefing was officially ended shortly after that. In a follow up question afterward, Bishop Bruno denied knowledge of a same-sex blessing that occurred Saturday at All Saints’, Beverly Hills. A celebration announcement was published in the Sunday edition of the Times.
When contacted by The Living Church, the Rev. Susan Russell, associate rector at All Saints’ Church, Pasadena, and president of Integrity, clarified the apparent contradiction.
“Same-sex blessings occur in the Diocese of Los Angeles all the time,” she said listing several parishes including her own at which same-sex blessings had recently been performed. “We don’t ask for permission because Bishop Bruno has told us that he cannot give it until General Convention approves an official liturgy. He has told us that we are free to exercise appropriate pastoral care” for parishoners.
Read it all. By any reasonable measure, the Tanzania Communique wanted anything but the status quo–KSH.
What Susan Russell said to Steve Waring:
My understanding is that permission from the bishop for the blessing of a same-sex union is not required in the Diocese of Los Angeles as we are understood, as presbyters, to be providing pastoral care to the couple under our pastoral oversight. That’s what happened at All Saints, Beverly Hills last week and that’s what will happen at All Saints, Pasadena next month (and lots of other parishes inbetween.)
Should the national church, through the appropriate process of consents by both houses sitting in General Convention authorize liturgical rites for blessing then that issue will be revisited by the Bishop of Los Angeles. In the meantime, flowers are ordered, organists arranged for, best men and women suited up and life goes on — the primates notwithstanding.
[blockquote]“Same-sex blessings occur in the Diocese of Los Angeles all the time,†she said listing several parishes including her own of which she was aware. “We don’t ask for permission because Bishop Bruno has told us that he cannot give it until General Convention approves an official liturgy. He has told us that we are free to exercise appropriate pastoral care for our presbyters.â€[/blockquote]
But Bruno makes a big deal at the press conference that TEC has never authorized a same-sex blessing, ever. If telling someone they are free to do what they want isn’t an authorization then I don’t know what is. 🙄
I thank Susan for her honesty. State it loud and clear, for all to hear. Within the “polity” of our Church, we will be conducting such blessings, following our consciences. This will happen in many congregations, in many Dioceses, whenever the “presbyter” feels that it is appropriate. To the degree that you disagree, sorry. Know that we will agree to disagree, but we will move forward without you.
Sorry, folks, but this is your Church. Get used to it, or get out.
I encourage the “get out” move, myself
To use a favorite phrase of the reappraisers:
Jesus never mentioned the word polity.
Get used to it, or get out…that must be all the unconditional love and radical inclusion I keep hearing about. 🙄
What else did you expect? Tell me what purpose Kendall’s radical solution could serve – except to give TEC more time to perfect the arrogance of their intransigence. Is Susan being honest? I suppose so. Are the parishes issuing SSB’s hypocrisies? Of course. They are operating under the table and they boast about it. Do we need that in the AC? Is this not a thoroughgoing dishonesty, and admission that integrity has been suborned successfully for the sake of a social agenda? Having the Susans of this world in the AC, cheerfully refusing to do anything except what gratifies them, is like having an arsonist in the house who is pleased to talk about his pleasure in setting fire to houses. Can someone explain to me why we do not simply turn our backs on TEC and close the gate? LM
LM,
It’s all the radical inclusion and unconditional love…it’s hard to give up.
Obesa cantavit.
Time to clear the crumbling opera house. The great Purple Wrecking Ball has arrived.
I am so disgusted with Bruno’s repugnant duplicity. It reflects very poorly on Bp Jenkin’s. If he doesn’t disavow this reprehensible behavior, he is guilty by association.
If Bruno stated tomorrow that he will abide by the DeS communique to the letter, who would be fool enough to believe him?
[blockquote] He has told us that we are free to exercise appropriate pastoral care for our presbyters. [/blockquote]
So now all of +Susan’s charges are presbyters? Now [i]that’s[/i] radical inclusion.
+Susan either mis-spoke or was mis-quoted.
Something in the Gospels about letting your yea be yea and your nah be nah.
Susan is being honest–it is commendable. I just wish the Episcopal Church leadership would follow her example.
I do appreciate the honesty, but now you get to the heart of the matter, use the polity when it is in your favor, when it is not ignore it. (Well, so long as you are not a reasserter). In other words we can have our cake and eat it, too.
Well, Kendall, Susan may be honest in this matter and it may be commendable, considering the hypocrisy of the TEC leaders. But it is NOT a virtue. To say, “We are operating under the table and we are boasting about it, there is nothing you can do to stop us, and your opinion is of no consequence to us since we plan to continue to ignore scripture for the sake of our own gratification,” this is commendable? To be honest about one’s own dishonesty is to be amoral, for such admissions are not honesty but exhibitionism. This is what narcissism looks like when it walks naked in the streets. Commend this if you want. With friends like this…. Larry
This is how Catholicity really breaks down, right? We just have congregationalism practiced at the Diosecan level. Regardless of your feeling about the issues, this is dysfunctional “catholic” polity by any definition. We will not work together “united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and…with one mind and one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (BCP 818.0