With the election of a new diocesan bishop on the agenda tomorrow (Nov. 10), clergy and lay delegates to Diocese of Chicago’s two-day convention in Wheeling decisively approved a resolution calling on General Convention 2009 to overturn the moratorium on the consecration of partnered homosexual candidates to the episcopacy.
“By approving this resolution we would join a growing list of dioceses who have voted to uphold the canons of our church,” said the Rev. Ruth Meyers, professor of liturgy at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary in Evanston, prior to debate. “It does not endorse a particular candidate for tomorrow’s election.”
There are eight nominees on the ballot for the election of a bishop. One is a partnered lesbian. The House of Bishops, meeting in New Orleans in late September, affirmed that the bishops would “as a body” honor Resolution B033, which calls on standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise caution before granting consent to the consecration of a partnered homosexual candidate.
About 15 people followed Ms. Meyers to the podium to speak to the motion, nearly all in favor of adoption, including the Very Rev. Gary Hall, dean and president of Seabury, who described B033 as bad legislation theologically and a violation of church law. The resolution also runs the risk of politicizing the consent process, he said.
Why repeal a resolution that is utterly empty?
They “..want it their way…” (apologies to Frank Sinitra)