California Convention to Vote on Same-Sex Rites

10/15/2007

Clergy and lay delegates to convention in the Diocese of California will consider a resolution calling on Bishop Marc Handley Andrus to approve for trial use three same-sex blessing rites endorsed by the diocesan Commission on Marriage and Blessing. Convention meets Oct. 19-20 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

Two years ago, the diocesan convention authorized creation of the Commission on Marriage and Blessing. The 13-member group has adapted three extant rites for use in the liturgical blessing of same-gender unions in the diocese. The group, whose mandate extends through October 2010, submitted a 48-page report, proposing that Bishop Andrus authorize those liturgies for trial use in the diocese.

“The Commission on Marriage and Blessing celebrates the intention of the Episcopal Diocese of California to support and bless both same-gender and heterosexual couples in godly relationship, while hoping for the day when ‘marriage equality’ will be the reality in our church and state,” the group said in an introduction to the report.

Last month during its Sept. 20-25 meeting in New Orleans, the House of Bishops released a statement pledging “as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions.” At this time The Episcopal Church has no official liturgy for blessing same-sex unions. Resolution C051 approved at the 74th General Convention in 2003 stated, “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.”

This article comes from The Living Church Foundation
http://www.livingchurch.org/

The URL for this story is:
http://www.livingchurch.org/publishertlc/viewarticle.asp?ID=3876