A Michigan-based gay rights foundation has given more than $400,000 to a California seminary to help craft formal liturgies for the Episcopal Church to bless gay and lesbian relationships.<\/p>\n
The Episcopal Church still officially considers marriage between a man and a woman, reflected in the marriage rite of its Book of Common Prayer. Many dioceses, however, unofficially allow priests to bless same-sex relationships and even marriages.<\/p>\n
Because the church puts a high value on scripted liturgies, many same-sex couples want their own marriage\/blessing rite since many bishops are reluctant to use the traditional husband-wife marriage liturgy for same-sex unions.<\/p>\n
The church’s 2009 General Convention gave the green light to collecting “theological and liturgical resources” that would form the basis of an official same-sex rite that could be added to the list of approved ceremonies.<\/p>\n