Episcopal church on gay marriage
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Often this is used as a catch-all for being attracted to people of the same gender as yourself.
Does the Episcopal Church accept LGBTQIA+ people?
Yes, the Episcopal Church is an open and affirming church, supporting the life, dignity, and full-inclusion of all LGBTQIA+ persons.
Why do we say we are open & affirming?
LGBTQIA people have always been part of the Church.
Resolution A146 orders the Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution, and Canons to report to the 82nd General Convention with possible canonical changes to allow for those disciplinary measures.
“There was discussion in our committee that we have ways of holding ordained clergy accountable for their behavior and their presentation of life, but there have not been any for lay folk,” said the Rt.
Rev. Susan Haynes, Bishop of Southern Virginia and chair of the Title IV Disciplinary Canons Committee. I thought God doesn’t make mistakes.
Many transgender Christians would agree with you: God doesn’t make mistakes! By this Canon, therefore, marriage is equally available to all couples.
With its adoption of Resolution A054, General Convention has made a new liturgical resource available to the Church that includes a revised form of “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” first made available in 2012, and also two other liturgies for trial use, “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2.” These liturgies are available to the Church for use, subject to the pastoral leadership of the bishop exercising ecclesiastical authority.
The task force is composed of an even representation of members who hold to a traditional understanding of marriage and those who hold an inclusive understanding of marriage.
“I think the house should be clearly aware that in this resolution and our considering it, we should all be grateful and show our gratitude to the conversation we know as Communion Across Differences,” Provenzano said.
“And it was pointed out that clergy take vows, but then the discussion ensued that laypeople also take vows through their Baptismal Covenant and we need to find ways to hold them accountable.”
All Title IV-related resolutions passed without discussion and without any audible dissenting votes.
Approving a church revitalization study
The bishops also passed a resolution aimed at supporting congregational revitalization, citing “trends of decline and diminished capacity” in the Episcopal Church.
Resolution A044 creates groups charged with identifying best practices and resources to aid churches and dioceses in their redevelopment and finding ways to leverage church property in redevelopment, planting, and evangelism efforts, among other tasks.
Recent generations of LGBTQIA activists have worked to reclaim the term as an umbrella for all Gender & Sexual minories. They are hungry for sources of hope, strategies that work, connection with other people doing this work, and there was great puzzlement as to why this is not a greater priority,” Budde said.
“If we as a church do not prioritize the health and vitality of our churches and diocese and help to effectively resource them, all of our efforts to be faithful to God’s mission in every other realm will continue to falter,” she added.
The resolution proposes using funds already allocated for congregational vitality and data-driven initiatives and redirecting funds from short-term reserves to carry out the work, if needed.
“We’re not asking for a budget; we’re not asking for a staff person.
8, 2024, 5:25 pmVoter Voice comes to DioMO
Resolution A116 is the first reading for inclusion of a gender-neutral marriage rite into the Book of Common Prayer. “The work that has happened since 2015 until present has fueled what we have before us.
We celebrate and give thanks for the beauty, strength, and sacred worth of LGBTQ+ leaders across all contexts and callings.
We invite you to join us on the journey.
As per Acts of Convention: Resolution # 2015-A036 we affirm marriage equality for all adults in the Episcopal Church.
Do you believe people can transition from one gender to another?
Yes. The acronym stands for
- L: Lesbian, women who are attracted to other women or feminine persons
- G: Gay, men attracted to other men or masculine persons.
We have prayed, studied, and discerned, and in doing so, we have seen the evidence of God’s blessing in the lives and love of our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ
In 2026, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of our church affirming that LGBTQ+ people have a full and equal claim to the love, acceptance, and pastoral care of the church.
Resources for Same Sex Marriage
By its adoption of Resolution A036, General Convention ruled that our new Canon I.18 on Marriage became effective Sunday, November 29, 2015, the First Sunday of Advent. I am grateful and ready to work.”
“We’re talking about this all the time. You belong.
We are asking for leadership to work with the resources that we have to do this work,” Budde said.
The Rt. Rev. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley of South Carolina spoke in support of the proposal.
“As the bishop of a reorganizing diocese, I give great thanks for the work of your committee,” she said. Their transition isn’t a turning away from God, but a turning toward God.
Just as how everyone’s gender identity is different, every transgender Christian will have a different account of how they see God in their transition.
Doesn’t the Bible say “Homosexuality is wrong?”
There are a select few passages in scripture which have been interpreted to exclude or condemn gay people, the “Clobber Passages,” as they are often known.