In the ponderous Blue Book of materials for the Episcopal General Convention in July, the Task Force on the Study of Marriage proposes a Resolution (A085) to revise, for trial use of course, the Prayer Book itself by:
- defining marriage as a “covenant between a man and a woman two people’
- amending the Proper Prefaces on Marriage to read: “Because in the love of wife and husband two people in faithful love…
- amending the Catechism to say: “Holy Matrimony is Christian marriage, in which two people the woman and man enter into a life-long union” and adding an additional section defining the procreative purpose in terms of “the gift and heritage of children…”
They make clear, in addition, that passing these “trial use” changes may count as a “first reading” for a permanent revision of the Prayer Book by 2021.
Not content with rewriting the marriage rite, the Task Force proposes a Resolution (Ao86) to authorize a rite of “Blessing of a Lifelong Relationship,” warning gravely that these rites “shall not be used for mere convenience.” So now a couple can forgo marriage altogether and be blessed. Presumably this new service is catering for the ever-popular cohabiting community.
So under the rubric of “trial use” the Episcopal Church is proposing a wholesale redefinition of Christian marriage.
There are still a few diocese acting in good faith, and Faith, which have managed to keep the insanity at the edge of the diocese. They are rapidly running out wiggle room. Not an enviable place to be.