The Episcopal Church Welcomes You

The triennial convention of The Episcopal Church closed in Indianapolis.  Clergy and lay deputies and bishops are home again, home again.  And they are beginning to report their reflections by diocesan websites, blogs and social networking.  As I said earlier this month  I am drawn to observe this convention like a moth to a flame, but from a safe distance.

Over the past nine years TEC has struggled painfully to address ways of bringing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children of God into the church's mainstream.  This struggle began in the 1970's as a very tentative movement.  I remember the (then) bishop of the Diocese of Nebraska reporting to members of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church that this very controversial topic had been brought up and that a resolution had called for committees to study the issues and make recommendations to the next convention three years hence.  He stumbled and stuttered in search of appropriate words for 'homosexuals'.  He spoke of sexual preference rather than orientation.  He did the best he could and when he asked if we had any questions or comments we remained still as church mice.

I remained silent although I could have said many things.  I was barely out to myself and my immediate family, and not at all to people at church.  As much as I claimed to be proud (or at least not ashamed), I could not bring myself to say, "I am one you will be studying for the next three years.  What would you like to ask me?"  Had every one of us in every church hearing this report had been able to speak up, the struggle might have been shorter.  Hard to say whether it would be less painful.  It was painful to be psychically silenced; it would have been painful to be attacked even verbally.  And that's the way it was in the early 1970's.

In the first decade of the twenty-first century, much had been accomplished in homes and businesses and schools.  Even much had been accomplished within some church denominations, most notably in the United Church of Christ.  TEC had moved forward at a grindingly slow pace at first, but in 2003 gay clergy were beginning to be accepted and V. Gene Robinson was elected and confirmed Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire.  Bp. Gene was the first openly gay man to be consecrated in TEC.  He was required to wear a Kevlar vest at his consecration.  As you can see many bishops came to celebrate this 'first' for the Episcopal Church.

  

One enormous barrier down; one to go. The other shoe dropped with far less angst and drama at this year's convention.  From the Arizona Diocesan Delegation Rev. John Kitagawa reports:

While controversial, there was a strong majority supporting the decision to issue a liturgical rite for the blessing of same-sex relationships. That makes it possible for us to say with greater integrity, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.” I am pleased our Deputation was unanimous in our support. I believe new pastoral and evangelical possibilities are now open to our Church.

--The Rev. John E. Kitagawa, D. Min., Clergy Deputy

   

So after three years of more study, a committee will produce drafts of same-sex relationship blessings for consideration.  So it takes a long time to go from, "Oh, homosexuals?" to "The Episcopal Church welcomes you."

But it's been fascinating to watch the journey.  And the journey will continue.

For the Arizona Delegates' full report, click here.