Q: What has been the situation in this diocese?<\/p>\n
A: I have said to the diocese that there will be no permission for blessing of same-sex unions until the General Convention of this church has made a decision.<\/p>\n
That is not because I feel that faithful persons in a chaste, loving relationship should not have the grace of God acknowledged by a blessing, but I also am bound as a bishop of the church to be responsible and faithful and obedient.<\/p>\n
Q: You said in New Orleans that \u201csometimes traveling as a body means slowing down the pace, in the hope that all can make the journey.\u201d\u009d What should gay and lesbian Episcopalians understand when you say that?<\/p>\n
A: I want them to hear that the commitment to the journey of full inclusion continues. We don\u2019t know what it will ultimately look like. But we want them to know we\u2019re still on the journey.<\/p>\n
What I have found is that many gay and lesbian Christians are concerned not just about their sacramental inclusion, but about the church. Many have shared that they\u2019re willing for us to pause and have that conversation. There are some who are pretty angry, and I understand that.<\/p>\n