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New York Times: Episcopal Church actions sends shock waves to Anglican Communion

2009-07-14T22:26:00.005-04:00

From here:

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Episcopal Church voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to open the door to consecrate more bishops who are openly gay, a move that is likely to send shock waves throughout the Anglican Communion, the global network of churches to which the Episcopal Church belongs.

By voting to affirm that “any ordained ministry” is open to gay men and lesbians, the Episcopal Church effectively ended what many regarded as a moratorium on ordaining gay bishops, which the church passed at its last convention three years ago.

The moratorium was adopted in what proved to be a largely unsuccessful effort to calm conservatives in the Anglican Communion, which has torn itself apart in the last six years since the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire first elected the communion’s first and only openly gay bishop, Bishop V. Gene Robinson. The battle over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church has been watched closely by other mainline Protestant churches. They are looking to the Episcopal Church as a bellwether that could foretell whether their denominations can survive the storm over homosexuality intact.

Many delegates to the church’s convention here characterized the action not as an overturning of the moratorium, but as simply an honest assertion of “who we are.” They note that the church, which claims about two million members, has hundreds of openly gay laypeople, priests and deacons, and that its democratic decision-making structures are charged with deciding who merits ordination.

“It’s not an attempt to fly in the face of the Anglican Communion,” said Bonnie Anderson, who as president of the House of Deputies, which represents laypeople and clergy members, is one of the church’s two top officers. “It’s an attempt to deepen relationships with the rest of the communion, because real relationships are built on authenticity.”

But some at the convention warned that the Episcopal Church could pay a price for snubbing its global partners.

Bishop Shannon S. Johnston, coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, who will take office on Oct. 1, said in an interview that he voted against it because “I thought we would be seen as uncooperative and not a team player in the Anglican Communion.”

Zack Brown, a youth delegate from the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, begged the House of Deputies just before their final vote, “Please don’t vote in a way that makes more conservatives feel the way I do now: like I’m the only one left.”

The vote in both houses was more than two-thirds in favor and one-third opposed or abstaining.

The House of Bishops also took up a measure that would create a liturgy to bless same-sex couples. Such blessings are already being done in many dioceses, without official sanction. “It is time for our church to be liberated from the hypocrisy under which it has been laboring,” Bishop Stacy Sauls of Lexington, Ky., told his fellow bishops on Tuesday.

The Episcopal Church acted despite a personal address at the start of the convention from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who as head of the Church of England is considered “first among equals” among the communion’s archbishops. “Along with many in the communion,” the archbishop said, “I hope and pray that there won’t be decisions in the coming days that will push us further apart.”

The resolution passed Tuesday was written in a way that would allow dioceses to consider gay candidates to the episcopacy, but does not mandate that all dioceses do so. It also emphasizes that the Episcopal Church has “an abiding commitment” to the Anglican Communion.

It says that many gay men and lesbians are already ministering in the church and that, “God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church, and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church is a mystery which the church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the constitution and canons of the Episcopal Church.”

Pamela Reamer Williams, a spokeswoman for Integrity USA, an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members of the church, said: “The church has stated very clearly that all levels of the ministry in the Episcopal Church are open to the L.G.B.T. baptized. It is a change in the sense that it supersedes the effective moratorium.”

Conservative provinces in the Anglican Communion, especially some in Africa, broke their ties with the Episcopal Church after it consecrated Bishop Robinson.

The moratorium adopted three years ago urged Episcopal dioceses to restrain from consecrating bishops whose “manner of life” posed a challenge to the rest of the Anglican Communion. In fact, a few openly gay candidates were considered for election in the last three years, but none won sufficient support, and the moratorium was never tested.

In the end, the moratorium pleased no one: neither conservatives who observed that some in the church did not really intend to abide by it, nor liberals who saw it as a codification of discrimination and injustice to gay clergy members who otherwise were qualified to be considered as bishops. The moratorium also did little to forestall the fracturing both within the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion. Conservatives in both bodies have formed their own alliances in the last three years, asserting that they represent the true Anglican tradition.

In the United States, four dioceses — Fort Worth; Pittsburgh; Quincy, Ill.; and San Joaquin, Calif. — have voted to split from the Episcopal Church (although some parishes within those dioceses elected to remain).

Last year, they joined with other disaffected parishes and groups that had splintered from the Episcopal Church over many years to form the “Anglican Church in North America.” That group held its first convention, in Texas, last month. They claim 100,000 members.

The new group says that Scripture clearly prohibits homosexual relationships. Church liberals, meanwhile, insist that the Anglican tent is large enough to tolerate multiple approaches.

The debates at the convention in Anaheim over the last few days have made it clear that the liberals increasingly have the upper hand within the Episcopal Church. At a debate over whether to develop formal rites for same-sex weddings, 50 people testified in favor and 6 against.

“It’s a clean sweep for the liberal agenda in the Episcopal Church,” said David Virtue, editor of VirtueOnline.org, a conservative Web site. “The orthodox are finished.”

Read it all here.

SF Online

2009-07-14T22:11:00.004-04:00

Tuesday Evening Press Briefing

2009-07-14T21:13:00.004-04:00

Among those briefing this evening are Bishop John Chane of the Diocese of Washington and Bishop Sean Rowe of the Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania:

Bishop John Chane is asked about the MDGs which are supposed to be achieved by 2015 and wanted to know if TEC will actually meet that goal. Chane says that regrettably it will be difficult to achieve, which doesn't meant that TEC hasn't been aggressive in achieving it.

The Living Church asks the deputies about the afternoon session when C067 Litigation Expense Disclosure was passed in the House of Bishops and wants to know what happened in the House of Deputies. The response is that the House of Deputies did not concur because they did not want people to know how much they are spending on litigation.

A question is now being asked about 2020 - C069 "Affirming Christ" was defeated before it got to the floor. How can evangelism be taking seriously when they are defeated before they get to the floor. The bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania admits that the church is not growing but says the church is about reconciling the world to God in Christ Jesus. A deputy said that the numbers in TEC have tracked the white population, especially those who are college graduates.

Next question is about C056 this morning Bishop Robinson of New Hampshire talked about the implications of the word "may" rather than "shall" - Bishop Robinson and Bishop Sauls did not like "may" but wanted to "shall." Bishop Sauls relies implicitly on the good will of the bishop.

Bishop Chane: He said it is presumptive - one is permissive and one is directive, he think that as they address it tomorrow they will see where they will go with this, and want to be sensitive and on board and sensitive to each other.

Next question is about the pensions - sorry, got interrupted.

Next question is about Hispanic evangelism and a considerable amount of money spent on it - has their been demographic and geographic studies to determine whether they are in line with the progressive agenda and full inclusion, especially after it was noticed that most of Province 10 voted against it. The Bishop from Northwest Pennsylvania says that it's not related. He hopes that they can spend 3.5 million dollars, but to plant 46 new congregations. It is immaterial and that it's too much of a generalization. We are planting churches.

Bishop Chane answers a question about blessing of same sex unions - he is pleased in the way the House of Bishops has worked on challenging piece of legislation. Some agree and some who don't.

When asked about the comments of N.T. Wright published in in the London Times, that the actions taken with the passage of B025, "marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion." N.T. Wright says that "They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other “instruments of communion” that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practising homosexuals as bishops. They were rejecting the two things the Archbishop of Canterbury has named as the pathway to the future — the Windsor Report (2004) and the proposed Covenant (whose aim is to provide a modus operandi for the Anglican Communion)."

Bishop Chane says that he hasn't read any newspapers, that the work at General Convention has been overwhelming. He said that N.T. Wright was in his Indaba group at Lambeth. He said we need to be clear about language - B033 is not a moratorium, that' been used inaccurately, but it's rather a time certain from last convention to this convention to really engage in what can be called pastoral behavior as we engage in conversation with our partners.

Bishop Coadjutor of Virginia's comment on the floor yesterday that the action of D025 was a break in the communion - Bishop Chane responded "That's his opinion."

In C056 Bishop Chane is asked about why now is the time to have same sex unions. He said that back at Minneapolis when consents were given in a significant number for Gene Robinson. During the time of debate in the House of Bishops, there was discussion about justice issue. It could be the appropriate time to explore this in a formal way. The majority of the House said it wasn't the time. "We clear knew that we had a lot of work ahead of us." Now we're in the third triennial and in terms of looking at this issue from a liturgical issue that is some interest in being transparent now. That doesn't mean the authorization of anything but being transparent. It's a matter of transparency that we need to begin the work through the theological committee and I think that's where we may be going, he says.

The church's internal needs, rather than gender/marriage equality? It's driven more by the need to look at our liturgical life and be honest with how we address ourselves both liturgically and honestly. Now is the time to begin those next steps, says Bishop Chane.

House of Bishops vote to nullify 2006 Moratorium

2009-07-14T21:06:00.002-04:00

Here is the live roll call vote from the House of Bishops:

Today the House of Deputies affirmed the same resolution, D025 and in that action, overturned the moratorium enacted by the ratification of B033 in the closing hours of General Convention 2006.

Breaking News: D025 Passes House of Deputies

2009-07-14T18:32:00.005-04:00

Vote:

LAITY:
78 yes
21 no
9 divided

carries by 72%

CLERICAL
77 yes
19 no
11 divided
Clerical

carries by 72%

(Note: divided is counted as no votes) - 2/3 majority in both orders

BB NOTE: The House of Deputies originally passed D025 on Sunday and sent it to the House of Bishops yesterday which added two amendments and passed it as well. Because of the amendments, the resolution was sent back to the House of Deputies which has now passed the amended resolution. This resolution lifts the moritorium requested by the Windsor Process on the election, ordination, and consecration of non-celibate homosexuals despite personal pleas from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the leadership of the Anglican Communion to retain the moritorium until a consensus on the issues is reached in the communion.

Bishop N.T. Wright: The Americans know this will end in schism

2009-07-14T16:48:00.002-04:00

From Times of London:

In the slow-moving train crash of international Anglicanism, a decision taken in California has finally brought a large coach off the rails altogether. The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church (TEC) in the United States has voted decisively to allow in principle the appointment, to all orders of ministry, of persons in active same-sex relationships. This marks a clear break with the rest of the Anglican Communion.

Both the bishops and deputies (lay and clergy) of TEC knew exactly what they were doing. They were telling the Archbishop of Canterbury and the other “instruments of communion” that they were ignoring their plea for a moratorium on consecrating practising homosexuals as bishops. They were rejecting the two things the Archbishop of Canterbury has named as the pathway to the future — the Windsor Report (2004) and the proposed Covenant (whose aim is to provide a modus operandi for the Anglican Communion). They were formalising the schism they initiated six years ago when they consecrated as bishop a divorced man in an active same-sex relationship, against the Primates’ unanimous statement that this would “tear the fabric of the Communion at its deepest level”. In Windsor’s language, they have chosen to “walk apart”.

Granted, the TEC resolution indicates a strong willingness to remain within the Anglican Communion. But saying “we want to stay in, but we insist on rewriting the rules” is cynical double-think. We should not be fooled.

Of course, matters didn’t begin with the consecration of Gene Robinson. The floodgates opened several years before, particularly in 1996 when a church court acquitted a bishop who had ordained active homosexuals. Many in TEC have long embraced a theology in which chastity, as universally understood by the wider Christian tradition, has been optional.

BACKGROUND

Schism 'inevitable' after US approves gay bishops
Bishops back Rowan Williams over gay sex row
US Church pledges not to consecrate gay bishops
No gay bishops? Then no bishops at all
That wider tradition always was counter-cultural as well as counter-intuitive. Our supposedly selfish genes crave a variety of sexual possibilities. But Jewish, Christian and Muslim teachers have always insisted that lifelong man-plus-woman marriage is the proper context for sexual intercourse. This is not (as is frequently suggested) an arbitrary rule, dualistic in overtone and killjoy in intention. It is a deep structural reflection of the belief in a creator God who has entered into covenant both with his creation and with his people (who carry forward his purposes for that creation).

Paganism ancient and modern has always found this ethic, and this belief, ridiculous and incredible. But the biblical witness is scarcely confined, as the shrill leader in yesterday’s Times suggests, to a few verses in St Paul. Jesus’s own stern denunciation of sexual immorality would certainly have carried, to his hearers, a clear implied rejection of all sexual behaviour outside heterosexual monogamy. This isn’t a matter of “private response to Scripture” but of the uniform teaching of the whole Bible, of Jesus himself, and of the entire Christian tradition.

The appeal to justice as a way of cutting the ethical knot in favour of including active homosexuals in Christian ministry simply begs the question. Nobody has a right to be ordained: it is always a gift of sheer and unmerited grace. The appeal also seriously misrepresents the notion of justice itself, not just in the Christian tradition of Augustine, Aquinas and others, but in the wider philosophical discussion from Aristotle to John Rawls. Justice never means “treating everybody the same way”, but “treating people appropriately”, which involves making distinctions between different people and situations. Justice has never meant “the right to give active expression to any and every sexual desire”.

Such a novel usage would also raise the further question of identity. It is a very recent innovation to consider sexual preferences as a marker of “identity” parallel to, say, being male or female, English or African, rich or poor. Within the “gay community” much postmodern reflection has turned away from “identity” as a modernist fiction. We simply “construct” ourselves from day to day.

We must insist, too, on the distinction between inclination and desire on the one hand and activity on the other — a distinction regularly obscured by references to “homosexual clergy” and so on. We all have all kinds of deep-rooted inclinations and desires. The question is, what shall we do with them? One of the great Prayer Book collects asks God that we may “love the thing which thou commandest, and desire that which thou dost promise”. That is always tough, for all of us. Much easier to ask God to command what we already love, and promise what we already desire. But much less like the challenge of the Gospel.

The question then presses: who, in the US, is now in communion with the great majority of the Anglican world? It would be too hasty to answer, the newly formed “province” of the “Anglican Church in North America”. One can sympathise with some of the motivations of these breakaway Episcopalians. But we should not forget the Episcopalian bishops, who, doggedly loyal to their own Church, and to the expressed mind of the wider Communion, voted against the current resolution. Nor should we forget the many parishes and worshippers who take the same stance. There are many American Episcopalians, inside and outside the present TEC, who are eager to sign the proposed Covenant. That aspiration must be honoured.

Contrary to some who have recently adopted the phrase, there is already a “fellowship of confessing Anglicans”. It is called the Anglican Communion. The Episcopal Church is now distancing itself from that fellowship. Ways must be found for all in America who want to be loyal to it, and to scripture, tradition and Jesus, to have that loyalty recognised and affirmed at the highest level.

N.T. Wright is Bishop of Durham, Church of England.

After eight days of General Convention

2009-07-14T16:34:00.003-04:00

New York Times: Episcopal Church Moves to End Ban on Gay Bishops

2009-07-14T10:56:00.003-04:00

From here:

The bishops of the Episcopal Church voted at the church’s convention on Monday to open “any ordained ministry” to gay men and lesbians, a move that could effectively undermine a moratorium on ordaining gay bishops that the church passed at its last convention three years ago.

he resolution passed on Monday was written in a way that would allow dioceses to consider gay candidates to the episcopacy, but does not mandate that all dioceses do so.

A similar measure was passed on Sunday by the church’s other legislative body, the House of Deputies, which is made up of laypeople and clergy. On Tuesday, the bishops’ version will probably go back to the House of Deputies for reconsideration.

The resolution, if approved, would probably add to the strife in the Anglican Communion, the world’s third largest family of Christian churches, of which the Episcopal Church is the American branch.

The battle over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church has been watched closely by other mainline Protestant churches that are also divided internally on the issue. Many are looking to the Episcopal Church as a bellwether that could foretell whether their denominations can survive the storm over homosexuality intact.

Conservative provinces in the Anglican Communion, especially some in Africa, have broken off their ties with the Episcopal Church in recent years after the church consecrated Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the communion, who was elected in the diocese of New Hampshire six years ago.

The moratorium that the Episcopal Church had passed at its convention three years ago was an attempt to calm conservatives in the communion and in the Episcopal Church. While not explicitly labeled a moratorium, it urged Episcopal dioceses to restrain from consecrating bishops whose “manner of life” posed a challenge to the rest of the Anglican Communion. In fact, a few openly gay candidates were considered for election in the last three years, but none of them won sufficient support, and the moratorium was never tested.

In the end the moratorium pleased no one: neither conservatives who observed that some in the church did not really intend to abide by it, nor liberals who saw it as a codification of discrimination and injustice to gay clergy members who otherwise were qualified to be considered as bishops.

The Rev. Susan Russell, a priest in Los Angeles who is the president of Integrity USA, an advocacy group for gay men and lesbians in the church, said in a statement late Monday, “There is no question that today’s vote in the House of Bishops was an historic move forward and a great day for all who support the full inclusion of all the baptized in the Body of Christ.”

The Episcopal News Service reported that Bishop Henry Parsley of Alabama, who voted against the resolution on Monday, said it would be interpreted overseas as a rejection of the moratorium, even though he thinks it is more nuanced.

“I long for us to be an inclusive church, but not a polarized church,” he said. “We need to be a part of the larger Anglican Communion in what we do in this matter. I think it will be interpreted internationally as a rejection of B033,” the legislation that instituted the moratorium on gay bishops three years ago.

The moratorium had done little to forestall the fracturing both within the Episcopal Church and in the Anglican Communion. Conservatives in both bodies have formed their own alliances in the last three years, asserting that they represent the true Anglican tradition.

In the United States, four dioceses — Fort Worth; Pittsburgh; Quincy, Ill.; and San Joaquin, Calif. — have voted to split from the Episcopal Church (although some parishes within those dioceses elected to remain). Last year, they joined with other disaffected parishes and groups that had splintered from the Episcopal Church over many years to form the “Anglican Church in North America.” That group held its first convention, in Texas, last month.

Read it all here.

London Times: Schism 'inevitable' after US bishops approve gay ordination

2009-07-14T10:52:00.003-04:00

From here:

A worldwide Anglican schism now seems inevitable after Episcopal bishops in the United States today backed the consecration of gay bishops.
Episcopal bishops approved a resolution passed earlier this week by the laity and clergy that allows “partnered gays” full access to ordination.

The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed “regret” over a decision by Anglicans in the US that represents a blow to his hopes for Church unity.

They took the step towards schism in spite of a plea by Dr Rowan Williams, who addressed the General Convention in Anaheim, California, last week.

Read it all here. The New York Times has their story here and the Guardian has their story here.

LIve Blogging Evening Press Conference

2009-07-13T21:26:00.003-04:00

We're getting ready for TEC's evening press conference. Just back from the House of Bishops where the bishops voted to ostensibly overturn B033 - though it now must go back to the House of Deputies since the nonsensical amendment to the amendment was added to their text. That should be accomplished with some haste. We still have C056 - which goes first to the House of Bishops and then to the deputies - but that was postponed to tomorrow.

Bishop Michael Smith, Diocese North Dakota
Bishop Stacy Sauls, Diocese Lexington
Deputy Sally Johnson, Diocese of Minnesota
Deputy Ernie Bennett, Diocese of Central Florida
Deputy Ian Douglas, Diocese of Massachusetts

Both of the bishops affirm that non-celibate gay and lesbians may be ordained and consecrated in the Episcopal Church.

What do you know that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't know, George Conger asks the bishops. Bishop Sauls says there is no heiarchical power that directs the churches lives. Central characteristic of the Anglican Communion, says Bishop Sauls.

Bishop Smith says there is a disconnect on what it means to be Anglican. Does autonomous mean independent or self-governing and interdependent, says Bishop Smith.

Question: If it passes the House of Deputies, does it open the door to transgendered and bisexual persons to ordination? Bishop Sauls says the door was never closed. He uses TEC's constitution and canons to justify these actions, not scripture.

Ian Douglas is trying now trying to justify what's happened by talking about other resolutions that have not come forward or will not come forward. He's trying to say that the resolution was descriptive, not proscriptive - which of course is not what was said in the House of Bishops were it was definitely proscriptive. Ian is trying to say it was descriptive, but it was very clear in the House of Bishops that it was proscriptive, which is why bishops like Shannon Johnston voted no.

The resolution will now go back to the House of Deputies World Mission Committee and they will issue a report to the House of Deputies on whether to recommend to concur, further amendment, or defeat it.

Bishop Sauls is saying basically that D025 clarifies that B033 no longer carries the mandate to restrain the Episcopal Church from ordaining and consecrating non-celibate gays, lesbian, bisexuals, transgendered and intersex individuals.

Kevin Kallsen is asking about Rowan Williams concern expressed this morning. "Is Rowan Williams confused?" Bishop Sauls says that he doesn't believe the Archbishop understands what is in the resolution.

It seems that Ian Douglas has been put up to try to defend the resolution since he was not scheduled to be one of the briefers. In order for TEC to be in communion, then they have to be "honest" and "be themselves" and "trust The Other" and "expecting the best of God in The Other." Then he spins the rest, saying that this action actually helps for Deeper Communion.

George Conger asks Ian Douglas, about what he understands communion to be. A large number of Anglicans in the developing world and in this country understand it to be a shared doctrinal faith - how is such dialogue even possible?

Ian says that when we talk about shared doctrinal faith - what is the starting point? The creeds? The Quadrilateral? The churches are still bound together in the same doctrinal faith - Ian assumes that in conversations. There might be some who would challenge my faith and commitment and that he affirms the scriptures and there are others who challenge him on the depth of his commitment, the problem is theirs, not his.

Monday Night at the Cafe

2009-07-13T21:20:00.001-04:00

Live Blogging House of Bishops debate on D025

2009-07-13T17:55:00.013-04:00

Here on the floor of the House of Bishops preparing to hear the bishops debate D025. The controversial section of the text reads:

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church;

Right now the bishops are voting on the bishop of Ecuador and are taking a ten minute recess as they process the votes. The room is decisively fuller than it was this morning. There is more accredited media here (as well as Matt Kennedy).

All ready it's been clear that the bishops are very concerned about the state of the budget and the topic of the budget continually is raised as each resolution is addressed.

On D025, the the bishops who are members of the World Missions committee voted "not concur" with a vote of 3-2. The House of Deputies, however, have voted in favor of the resolution.

The new bishop of Ecuador is now being welcomed into the House of Bishops and the house has risen to its feet as they applaud.

The House of Bishops has postponed consideration of C056 which would officially begin the process (and in that process encourage practice) of rites for same sex blessings and marriages. This has been attempted at General Conventions in the past and each time it was pushed back. By developing rites, the Episcopal Church will embrace at a national level the blessing of same sex marriages.

C056 has been postponed to Tuesday, July 13.

Bishop Wolf has just made a speech about why the bishops of the World Mission committee voted 3-2 to recommend that the House of Bishops not concur on D025 (the House of Deputies has all ready passed D025). I recorded her giving the talking points and will have that video up shortly. She basically was reminding the HoB that some parts of TEC in South America are not in a place where this would be helpful to them, while other parts of the church have serious issues. She also mentioned that this resolution conflicted with not only the Windsor Process, but also Lambeth 1.10. The bishops are now having "table talk" for twenty minutes.

4:18 p.m. Bishop Henderson of Upper South Carolina has proposed an amendment that he says will state to the larger church, the larger family (as is stated in the creeds, one holy catholic and apostolic church) that they understand what they are doing.

The Bishop of Newark speaks against the amendment since the House of Deputies has all ready spoken. Another bishop says it leaves him with very mixed emotions. He thinks that the last resolve in the resolution will honor the sacramental life of gays and lesbians. Though he's concerned about the covenant of the communion, he seems to care more about the covenant with gays and lesbians so he is "troubled" about this amendment because he does not feel it helps TEC to move forward.

Bishop from Maryland supports the Bishop of Upper South Carolina's amendment to continue serious and prayerful discernment.

Bishop from Atlanta opposes amendment because he thinks it confuses the theological discussion with their own canons - not sure exactly what he means by that. He seems to think that clarifying canons is more important than theology.

A request is now made to have the amendment reread:

Line 36, after words affirms that ... God's call to the ordain ministry in the Episcopal Church is a mystery which the church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance of the constitution and canons of The Episcopal Church.

This would replace "God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested through our discernment processes ..."

Two more bishops have risen to support the amendment, including a Bishop from Tennessee. One bishop said that the mystery would include gays and lesbians while Tennessee says that this would help their relationships with the rest of the communion.

Charleston of California also supports amendment - he thinks that the word "mystery" can be interpreted in a variety of ways - it could include the Anglican communion but also could include LBGTI people who could also be ordained because it's a mystery.

In other words, it is not clear, though he says it's clear that it does end a moratorium.

Bishop Gray of Mississippi says the resolution with or without the amendment either does or does not overturn B033, though he's not sure if it had the weight of a canon, he says they still need reticence on his part, he does support the amendment in the hopes that he can support the entire resolution, he's working on that.

Another bishop rises to support the amendment - wants to participate in the wider Anglican Communion and wants to support strategic planning for Hispanic ministry and get away from the notion publicized by the fundamentalists in Latin America that would hinder their understanding of the theological process of the Episcopal Church - he thinks the amendment would be of great help.

Bishop fromMaine - he speaks against the amendment because he likes the clarity and specifically of the original resolution. He wants to represent the context fully.

Bishop from Vermont who believes that God has affirmed and called gay and lesbians into the church and that it's not a mystery. What is a mystery is who is sitting in a chair across from him. That mystery unfolds a call that he did not see there. God calls and continues to call, he has no reservation because he sees in the lives of gays and lesbians holy lives. He wants to the resolution to pass and if this amendment will help to pass it, then he'll enter into an agreement into that as long as it doesn't question gays and lesbians in the ordained ministry.

Bishop Little of Northern Indiana supports the amendment because he couldn't vote on the resolution as it is, however listening to the room that the amendment is interpreted as both pro and anti B033. It may lead to exegetical chaos. It will be hard for those who were not part of this conversation to understand what we're getting at.

Bishop Bruno of Los Angeles opposes amendment because it is not clear. He wants to pass a clear and concise resolution.

Bishop of Utah - speaks in favor of the amendment, knowing that her own deputation will be upset but her culture in Utah will not. She thinks it's a mystery. She leads herself open to what God may have in mind. She does not want to withdraw support of gay and lesbian clery or Bishop Robinson.

Southern Ohio Bishop - opposes amendment, the original wording made it clear God acts and we respond, the amendment lacks a clear understanding that gays and lesbians can be consecreated to the episcopate.

NOTE: I am now running low on battery power and may be twittering much of the debate if it continues. If so, you can follow the Twitter stream by reading the Twitter stream in the right hand column or go to http://twitter.com/babyblueanglica.

Now there is a call to end debate. It fails.

The next bishop does support amendment because it puts God at the center of all this, but it doesn't put boundaries on who God calls.

So - I supposed this amendment means what ever you want it to mean. Very disappointing!

Bishop Chane of Washington - speaks against the amendment. B033 as it was passed three years has caused great pain for everybody. It has also inhibited the church to discern the breath of the Holy Spirit and is discriminatory. The gift to the House of Bishops is to be in this position and know that you will be in disagreement with brothers and sisters and says they are in that place, but when looking at the Holy Spirit and see Gene Robinson as a breath of the spirit, a breath of fresh air. He prays that by voting against the amendment will not hurt the resolution.

Bishop from Ohio - the more he reads the original language and the amendment and more that he listens to his colleagues, the more he finds both to be true. The process leads to either or matter and see them as a both and - moves to an amendment to the amendment -

(return original wording through "The Episcopal Church") affirm that God has called and may call such individuals to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church and that God's call is a mystery .... etc.

It is seconded.

Bishop from Iowa is grateful for the amendment to the amendment for clarity and remove the evasion, it puts it all out on the table, this is who we are, he says.

Bishop Whelan of Europe says he is concerned that they worship civil rights more than they worship God, and so to affirm that God's call is a mystery is an antithesis to that, but then when the church discerns an African woman or a gay man in a partnered relationship than that is discerning God's call - he supports amendment to the amendment.

Bishop Lamb also supports amendment to the amendment since he comes from a diocese that excluded women and everyone is welcome to the process.

Bishop of Missouri opposes that the piling on of words does not clarity make.

Bishop of New Hampshire, says it doesn't refer to rights or civil rights - access guaranteed.

Bishop Charleston says that they need to know what they are saying - so he says they need clarity and so he supports this resolution because he supports full inclusion including in God's mysterious call.

Next bishop says it is an issue of integrity and being true to one's self and need to define ourselves of who God is calling us to be.

Eastern Michigan bishop says he appreciates what Bishop Charleston says and says he for one wants to state that what ever they pass, it is access to the process and embrace the mystery. Where does that lead me on a boat, he asks? He has no idea.

I think his boat is sinking, but never mind.

Move the question to end the debate on ALL the amendments.

The amendment to the amendment is now read again:

Amendment to the Amendment is passed and the entire Amendment as amended is passed.

Now the debate begins on the Resolution as a whole. Again, I running low on battery power and if lose the power I will switch to Twitter.

A bishop is now making a speech in favor of the resolution as celebrating human love.

Smith North Dakota is a negative response to one of the Windsor moritoria calls for a roll call vote.

West Texas says he did not plan to support B025 because in his context they couldn't move forward, then he could move forward with Bishop Henderson's amendment he could, but now he can't.

Bishop Daniels wants to speak and got Bishop Robinson to call him over to the mic. He supports the amendment. Lambeth 1.10 does not believe it represents the mind of the communion, just the bishops gathered at that Lambeth Conference. Wants to move for an amendment in the second line after the word Episcopal Church as a constituent member of the Anglican Communion.

It is passed.

Bishop in Kentucky retired, sees so much positive material and wants to make sure it's not lost. Wants to split the resolution by lines 1-27 and then the lines 29-40. Wants to make sure the positive gets through.

Wanted to divide the resolution by resolves and he tried to do that, but for some reason Bishop Schori wouldn't let him do that - it wasn't clear, he was trying, but she wouldn't let him do it and told him to sit down. What happened there? He was trying to follow directions from the chair. Obviously, she didn't want to do that.

Bishop of Newark found B033 confounding and sullied the memory of that Convention. He is grateful that this resolution takes the negative experience of B033 and affirms gays and lesbians in ordained ministry and local option on same sex marriages.

Bishop Sauls of Lexington speaks in favor of the resolution - states what is true and what has always been true.

It is not looking good here in the House of Bishops. Now is the time to pray.

Bishop Johnston Coadjutor of Virginia does not agree that this states what is true - he personally agrees with every word in the resolution and is convicted by every word in this resolution but it is the repudiation of B033 and breaks with the Anglican Communion and he is pained by that. He says that we can affirm all the affection all we want and say we want to be in the communion then go ahead and sever the communion. He opposes the resolution though he agrees with it, sees it as breaking with the Anglican Communion. He is extremely sad to see himself on the loosing side of both of those truths.

Bishop Beckwith of Springfield opposes the resolution. He believes it is an honest statement of where the house and the leaderhship of TEC. He does not believe it's the right thing to do. Overwhelmingly the understanding of the Christian faith that sexual relationship belongs in marriage between a man and woman. Is this a justice issue or a communion issue. We are a minority in our opinion, he said.

The current bishop is saying that a signficant number in the Anglican Communion knows that TEC is following the spirit and believes it will move the conversation forward but to remember to e-mail their indaba groups.

Bishop from Diocese of Albany speaks in favor. If this resolution passes will cease to be what it has always been up to this point. Archbishop of Canterbury said "as for General Convention ... if the House of Bishop blocks the moritorium remains." If he sees what we're possibly about to do, we can only assume that rest of the communion will understand. We have been asked again and again not to do what we are about to do.

If we do this we will totally shred out relationships with the Anglican Communion, he says.

Bishop of Kentucky (and Ft Worth he said) needs help with his discernment - the assumption that the passing will end the moritorium.

Idaho Bishop now speaks - Ubuntu he heard two things, commitment to be in relationship with you and true self and this resolution clearly identifies who they really are, with clarity and integrity.

Bishop Robinson of New Hampshire speaks talks about his partner and meeting with the deputation of Mississippi and it was a holy time. Robinson said he was told he represented the church of the future and that the people of the Mississippi weren't ready yet. It's all going to end up with full inclusion, that's where it's going to end up. It's time to stand up and be the church God has called us to be, he says.

Bishop from Delaware speaks in favor of the resolution. The room is now packed, every seat is taken - except for three empty tables, three empty tables remain abandoned, the three empty tables marked as Anglican Communion visitors. They are empty.

Bishop Wolf of Rhode Island rises and says the consensus of the group is not only to take this resolution as amended and move beyond B033 and the moritoria and other restraints.

Western Louisanna bishop rises to say that this resolution will fracture Anglican Communion.

Bishop Frey of Rio Grande opposes resolution, though he's grateful for the generous language. The object was to get everyone there when the Israelite went into the dessert. His concern that the House of Bishops haven't convinced the larger constiuency or the Anglican Communion.

Bishop of California rises in favor, mentioning Integrity's video. He speaks in favor of the resolution, quoting Harvey Milk who said "let us give them hope."

Western North Carolina rises to support the resolution, as does the Bishop of El Camino Real.

This may be it, this may be really it.

I will now go to Twitter here.

99 Bishops voted in favor of the resolution
45 Bishops voted against the resolution
2 Bishop abstained

69% yes
31% no

Episcopal Resolution Watch: C056 on Same Sex Unions/Marriage

2009-07-13T13:45:00.005-04:00

The Liturgy and Prayer Book Committee has overwhelming approved Resolution C056:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, collect and develop theological resources and liturgies of blessing for same-gender holy unions, to be presented to the 77th General Convention for formal consideration, and be it further

Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops Theology Committee, devise an open process for the conduct of its work in this matter, inviting participation from dioceses, congregations, and individuals who are or have already engaged in the study or design of such rites throughout the Anglican Communion, and be it further Resolved, that all bishops, noting particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church; and be it further

Resolved, that honoring the theological diversity of this Church, no bishop or other member of the clergy shall be compelled to authorize or officiate at such liturgies, and be it further

Resolved, that the Anglican Consultative Council be invited to conversation regarding this resolution and the work that proceeds from it, together with other churches in the Anglican Communion engaged in similar processes.

As we learned in the prolife movement with the passage of partial birth abortion bills, the way to change the course of a social cause is piece by piece and this resolution is a prime example of how that's done. By opening up same sex unions and marriages in states where civil same sex unions and marriages are legal, in fact the barnyard door is wide open. No one is fooled. The lobbying groups here at General Convention are in favor of "full inclusion of the baptized" - not just in particular states. That the lobbying groups would favor this illustrates that either they are not truly in favor of full inclusion of the baptized or it's a trick. This resolution would in fact break apart the moratorium now in place with B033, just as D025 would. Either the church observes its moritorium on behalf of the request of the rest of the Anglican Communion or it will not.

The phrase "generous pastoral response" is a euphemism for blessing of same sex unions and marriages. As we also recall, when The Episcopal Church opened the door for the ordination of women, General Convention also promised that dioceses by matter of conscience and tradition who do not ordain women would not be forced to do so. But that view was not upheld and General Convention 2000 in Denver initiated "task forces" with the mandate to "visit, interview, assess, and assist" the traditionalist dioceses in an effort to pressure them into compliance with the rest of the Episcopal Church. Even as one who does support the ordination of women, this tactic - a trick - to force the Anglo Catholic traditionalists into "compliance" was quite simply appalling. The idea that some dioceses would practice "full inclusion" while others will be free to not practice "full inclusion" needs a generous amount of suspension of disbelief in order to comply.

This current resolution - which of course will have the same affect since it follows the same strategy - should be sent to the House of Bishops first where D025 is also slated for consideration. Stay tuned and stay on guard.

Breaking News: Motion to recognize ACNA now before Church of England Synod

2009-07-13T08:24:00.002-04:00

Kendall Harmon reports that the first motion for the Church of England to recognize the Anglican Church of North America has picked up six Church of England bishops and at 121 sponsors. According to the London Times, this will "guarantee it a place on the next Synod agenda in February

The motion reads:

"That this Synod express the desire that the Church of England be in communion with the Anglican Church in North America."

This comes as the House of Deputies passes D025 that will officially recognize the ordination of non-celibate homosexuals and overturn the moritorium enacted at General Convention 2006. It reads in part:

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God's One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further

Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, which call is tested through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church;

The London Times is reporting that "The Archbishop of Canterbury told General Synod today that he 'regrets' the decision by The Episcopal Church house of deputies to overturn the moratorium on the ordination of gay bishops," writes Ruth Gledhill of The Times.

"As for General Convention it remains to be seen, I think, whether the vote of the House of Deputies will be endorsed by the House of Bishops," The London Times quotes Rowan Williams as saying. "If the House of Bishops chooses to block, then the moratorium remains. I regret the fact that there is not the will to observe the moratorium in such a significant part of the Church in North America." The audio is available here.

Having one's cake and eating it too?

2009-07-13T01:32:00.003-04:00

From here:

ANAHEIM, Calif. | The presiding bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church warned the Church of England not to foment schism in America, responding to a threat made over the possibility that the U.S. church will start ordaining actively gay bishops.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said Sunday, in response to questions from The Washington Times, that calls by conservatives in the Church of England for recognition of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) over gay-related issues would wound her church, already split by the secession of conservative dioceses and congregations to form the ACNA.

She urged Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to remember the "pain of many Episcopalians in several places of being shut out of their traditional worship spaces, and the broken relationships, the damaged relationships between people who have gone and people who have stayed."

"Recognition of something like ACNA is unfortunately likely only to encourage" further secessions, she said, reminding the Church of England that "schism is not a Christian act."

Bishop Jefferts Schori's remarks come amid a fight at the triennial meeting of the General Convention, the Episcopal Church's top legislative body, which began moves over the weekend to overturn the church's 2006 ban on gay bishops.

On Saturday night, the church's World Missions Committee consolidated 13 resolutions into a single bill that opens the door for gays "like any other baptized members, to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church."

The General Convention has a bicameral structure - divided into a House of Deputies and a House of Bishops - and resolutions require approval by both houses.

The committee vote, however, was divided, with the panel's deputies - the clergy and lay members of the General Convention - voting 24-2 in favor of the bill, while the panel's bishops voted 3-2 to reject it.

The Rev. Charlie Holt, a conservative deputy from the Diocese of Central Florida, predicted the deputies would endorse the committee report, noting the numbers were not there to hold the ban. Passing the other hurdle may prove harder.

Washington Bishop John B. Chane, though a longtime supporter of pro-gay causes in the church, told The Times on Sunday that rescinding the ban "will not be helpful," adding that he did not think the "effort to overturn it will be successful."

Bishop Chane said he hoped the Convention would be "respectful of our differences, and that we don't leave" with the degree of rancor the church experienced in 2006 when the ban was enacted.

But pressure to block the bill has come from the church's overseas partners.

On Thursday, Archbishop Williams urged the Convention not to rescind the ban, saying "I hope and pray that there won't be decisions in the coming days that could push us further apart."

Archbishop Williams declined to tell the Episcopal Church what the consequences might be if it repudiated the gay ban. But other leaders of the Church of England indicated that possible consequences would be a break with the Episcopal Church or the recognition of its rival, the ACNA.

On Friday, Bishop N.T. Wright of Durham told members of the Church of England's General Synod that their House of Bishops' Theological Committee would study the organizing documents of the ACNA. A resolution has also been proposed for debate in the next session of synod that would recognize the ACNA.

Read it all here.

BabyBlue spotted hiding out in Disneyland

2009-07-12T22:36:00.002-04:00

And we've got the film:

From what we're hear, she's been stuck on this ride for two days. Regular reports should resume on Monday, if we're able to convince her to get off the ride and return to the Convention Center. Stay tuned.

Archbishop Duncan speaks in London

2009-07-11T11:14:00.002-04:00

From AnglicanTV:

USA Today: Focus on personal salvation is 'heresy', 'idolatry'

2009-07-11T11:07:00.002-04:00

Here's an excerpt:

Sex, politics, and poverty evidently aren't hot enough topics for The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. Wednesday, she threw a grenade on personal salvation, too. She even took a swipe at the "sinners prayer" -- a brief-but-intense prayer admitting to sin and submitting to Jesus. There's no agreed text for this prayer but variations of it are central to evangelical/pentecostal Protestantism. The Episcopal Church has been boiling for years in a fundamental disagreement over its theological direction ...

Read it all here including national reaction from other faith groups.

TEC General Convention: Two Paths to Mission

2009-07-11T10:34:00.007-04:00

The ACC's Phil Ashey writes of his experience of General Convention so far, via email:

I am writing you from Anaheim, California, where the staff of the American Anglican Council is providing daily worship and pastoral care to orthodox bishops and deputies to General Convention 2009. Our mission here is "supporting and reporting." We are posting daily reports from GC 2009, which you can find on our website www.americananglican.org. In addition, we are also partnering with other reporters and bloggers to make sure that the unvarnished truth is reported to the world-and not "Anglican fudge."

At this General Convention, the number of orthodox willing to stand against the tide of TEC's agenda is vastly reduced from previous conventions. During the hearings this week on developing rites for same sex blessings and conforming the marriage canons to civil law, 50 speakers testified in favor and only 6 orthodox could be found to speak against. During the open hearings on whether to move beyond resolution BO33 and permit the consecration of LGBT candidates for bishop (in violation of the Windsor Report moratoria), 25 speakers testified in favor of moving beyond B033, and only 5 orthodox could be found to speak against.

With such a numerically diminished opposition, TEC leaders have a free hand to draft and pass virtually any legislation they like.

Resolutions advocating rites for same sex blessings, equal access to ordination for any baptized person regardless of gender identity and expression, inter-religious dialogue, abolition of torture, and peace in the Middle East are what the Presiding Bishop described as the heartbeat of the Church, its mission. Some of these resolutions are worthy of praise such as a just peace in the Middle East and addressing poverty and hunger. Others will further tear the Anglican Communion to shreds - such as the development of rites for same sex blessings and the repeal of Resolution B033. In any case, enormous amounts of time, energy and money are being expended to discuss, debate, amend and put to vote the overwhelming number of resolutions that define the mission of the Episcopal Church.

By contrast, Jesus Christ seems to have found a very different path to mission. In yesterday's reading from the lectionary, from Luke 24:36-52, Jesus delivers the mission to his Church - to you and to me - without many committee meetings, and in four definite steps.

First, Jesus addresses our need for "peace": "Jesus himself stood among them and said 'Peace be with you.'" (Luke 24:36) In John's post-Easter account, Jesus declares this peace three times (John 20:19, 21, 26). The peace Jesus brings is not only an answer to our fears, it is shalom: wholeness and holiness of life. It involves the healing of what is sick and sin-filled in our lives.

How remarkable that our Lord should love us so much that he wants us to experience such peace and shalom before he sends us out on mission! How very different from the conversations I have listened to this week, half full with declarations that God is love, God loves me, God made me the way I am and God doesn't make mistakes - and utterly missing any discussion of personal sin, rebellion and our own responsibility for the warpedness of our choices and the consequences that follow. How can there be genuine peace and shalom when there is no will to engage the call to holiness of life that speaks from every page of the Bible?

In the midst of the freedom to enact resolutions that will permit, bless and commend to church leadership almost any expression of sexuality, there is an undercurrent of anger and angst at this General Convention. Could this be the witness that beyond sexual freedom there is an awful emptiness that only the peace of Jesus will ever be able to satisfy?

Secondly, Jesus Christ, risen and alive, is the reason and ground for mission: Jesus said, "Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24:39) The reasons for mission are not the needs that cry out to us. Neither is the ground for our mission Martin Buber's "I and thou" cited by the Presiding Bishop in her opening address. Rather, it is all about Jesus. Jesus made it absolutely clear that He himself is the reason and ground for the church's mission. He is the message. His physical, bodily resurrection is the reason we have any hope to offer people at all. Every act of compassion and every deed of justice flows out of this hope, and points people back to Jesus.

And that is precisely why the Presiding Bishop's condemnation of confessional Christianity as a heresy is so shocking. The reduction of Calvary to a "way point" and not the "end point" removes the very hope for transformed lives from the inside out that can only come through Jesus Christ's resurrection life and love. The intentional diminishing of the uniqueness and universality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of all ultimately reduces the mission of the church to social service with a liturgical veneer.

Thirdly, Jesus calls us to understand mission within the framework of Holy Scripture: "Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." (Luke 24:45) Jesus went on explain how his suffering death and resurrection on the third day fulfilled what is written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets. He placed the call to repentance and forgiveness of sins within the Biblical testimony of God's plan for humanity (Luke 24:47). Out of this understanding he called them, and us, to mission: to be witnesses of these things, in word and deed.

For generations, the authority of the Scriptures has been questioned and diminished by so many Episcopal bishops and theologians that most Episcopalians believe it is simply one of three equal authorities along with tradition and reason that must be weighed equally in the balance. This was never the intent or the teaching of Anglican theologians such as Richard Hooker (so often cited for the "three legged stool"). Holy Scripture has always been the ultimate authority, even over tradition and reason. But in the upside-down world of TEC, changes in the canons or "traditions" of the church, driven by "reasons" of culture, have now caused the church to move beyond the plain words of Scripture. Without the authority of scripture, there will be no anchor like Micah 6:8 for doing justice, and loving mercy. Like Esau, the Episcopal Church is selling its birthright in God's unchanging word for the pottage of political and cultural expediency.

Finally, Jesus calls us to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to equip us for mission: Jesus said, "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49) Jesus made good on this promise in Acts, chapter 2, at Pentecost. With the power of the Holy Spirit from on high, the Church exploded in mission so that the "Acts of the Apostles" should really be called "The Acts of the Holy Spirit."

Of all the things I feel missing this week here in Anaheim, it is the absence of any waiting - prayerful or otherwise - for power from on high, for the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. We are waiting for decisions from the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies. People are waiting with hand-wringing for the budget cuts. People are waiting for the response of the rest of the Anglican Communion to the decisions that will be made here over the next week. But where is the waiting for power from on high?

None can predict the outcomes of the legislation. But one thing we can predict. This week will clarify the choices that Episcopalians will have to make in the months ahead. There will be two paths to mission. Which one will faithful Episcopalians walk?

Friday Night at the Cafe: Holy is the Lord

2009-07-11T00:31:00.000-04:00

Just so we remember who really is in charge, yes, even of The Episcopal Church.

BabyBlue VideoBlog Report: On the Road to General Convention

2009-07-10T18:39:00.012-04:00

Available on iTunes or click below to play:

NOTE: To download the latest version of QuickTime, click here. Also, Firefox or Safari work best. MS Internet Explorer belongs in the Smithsonian next to the TRS80.

Live from the House of Deputies: B033 on the block

2009-07-10T12:41:00.030-04:00

Right now the House of Deputies is in a business session. In about twenty minutes (10:00 a.m. Pacific Time) deputies who won a lottery will be permitted to speak on the floor on their views of B033, the resolution passed in the closing hours of General Convention 2006 in Columbus in an attempt to comply with the Windsor Report. It instituted a moratorium on same sex unions and the election and consecration of partnered gay bishops.

Bonnie Anderson is reminding the deputies yet again that this is not a legislative session that they are entering into. They are now showing the winning numbers of the lottery for those who will now be permitted to speak. Looks Louie Crew one the lotto.

Here's a tally:

Against B033 - in favor of repealing Moratorium
1
1
1
1
1
-----
Subtotal: 5
1
1
1
1
1
-----
Subtotal: 10
1
1
1
1
1
-----
Subtotal: 15
1
1
1
1
-----
FINAL TOTAL: 19

For B033 - in favor of continuing Moratorium
1
1
1
1
1
-----
Subtotal: 5
1
1
1
-----
FINAL TOTAL: 8

In favor of continuing the moratorium of B033:

Against continuing the moratorium of B033:

Friday Morning Press Briefing: Bishop Sauls notes Archbishop Rowan Williams anxiety over the Episcopal General Convention

2009-07-10T11:55:00.005-04:00

George Conger asks a question to Bishop Stacy Sauls of the Diocese of Lexington on his opinion on what Archbishop Rowan Williams said yesterday in his teaching at the morning Eucharist. "I think the Archbishop began as I recall that homily by trying to put to rest reading into anything into anything else he might say. He began with an affirmation of his personal affection and belief in the Episcopal Church," says Bishop Sauls. "He thought that was true of the communion as well. I heard him say as well that he has anxiety that the convention take action that would lead to further division in the life in the communion."

A question is later asked whether this anxiety will influence the legislation facing The Episcopal Church. "I hope that anyone will be heard, but I don't know if it will have any affect," said Bishop Gary Lillibridge of the Diocese of West Texas. "Over the next few days we're going to try to figure out how as a church to bear one another's burdens."

When asked whether there is concern about The Episcopal Church accepting the consequences of General Convention possibly endorsing same sex unions or the consecration of more partnered gay bishops, Bishop Sauls says that Episcopal Church is ready to accept the consequences. He also made a point to note that the Anglican Church in North America is not a province.

The House of Bishops declines invitation to join House of Deputies as 2006 Windsor Compliance Resolution B033 is revisited by GC deputies

2009-07-09T21:27:00.007-04:00

It was learned this evening that, despite an earlier expectation to the contrary, the House of Bishops decided today not to join the House of Deputies as they revisit and possibly reconsider B033 which was originally passed in the closing hours of General Convention 2006 in response to the Windsor Report.

LIVE: House of Deputies "conversation" on B033

2009-07-09T19:33:00.012-04:00

In the closing hours of General Convention 2006 in Columbus, the House of Bishops and House of Deputies passed a resolution entitled B033:

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.

It was passed with some major arm-twisting from the newly elected Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori who took the unprecedented action of appealing to the House of Deputies in person and speaking to the floor after the debate had started.

Today the House of Deputies will revisit B033 and have open conversation on this resolution that was passed in an attempt to answer the Windsor Report's request of The Episcopal Church and refrain from establishing blessings for same sex unions nor elect and consecrate any more partnered gay bishops.

We're here on the floor with the press following the developments. Right now they are attempting to vote on candidates standing for different positions but are having some major technical difficulties and some confusion as the deputies attempt to vote. The deputies seem in good humor about it all, which makes it rather entertaining.

We've now heard a report from the World Mission Committee which has been charged with many of the resolutions that would repeal B033. I've got the video (taken from the press box) below:

Part One begins with a review of how B033 was ratified and what happened after it's ratification.

Part Two continues the story of what happened after B033 was ratified by the 2006 General Convention.

And here we see the House of Deputies receive their instructions for sharing their narratives with one another, or, to answer the question as Mr. Dylan might say, "How does it feel?" For in the end, it will be about how they feel that will determine what they do next:

Tomorrow there will be a lottery amongst the deputies and the winners will be permitted to speak publicly at mics as consideration of the repeal of B033 continues tomorrow.

UPDATE: Read S.C. Deputy Steve Wood's blog posting from the floor of the House of Deputies here. Don't miss it!