Yesterday (Monday--6/29/15) the House of Bishops took up the resolutions on marriage. After much debate, the bishops voted to authorized several trial liturgies for same sex couples to be married. As you know, we have had trial liturgies for blessings of unions for the past three years. This is the way the Church changes. It takes six years to change the Book of Common Prayer. The Church will see how these new liturgies work until the next Convention. The liturgies are in keeping with our Episcopal ethos and they continue what has been going on in our diocese since same sex couples could get married. They are also more suitable than the Blessing liturgies we already have been using. The vote was overwhelming.
In order to get our practice in line with our Canons, the House of Bishops also passed a resolution to take out "man and woman" in the marriage canon and replace it with "the couple." This debate was intense but respectful. We took a role call vote and the final tally was YES 129 NO 26
ABSTAIN 5. I voted YES on both resolutions.
I think these resolutions allow our Church to continue being a big tent. They don't force anyone to disobey their conscience, but they also insure
that everyone can get married in the Church--- "Bishops... will make provisions for all couples asking to be married in this Church to have access to these liturgies." We don't spell out how that happens because we are seeking to find a way to remain a Big Tent Church and yet be true to where we are as a Church and a culture. I think the vote indicates the rightness of this move.
Last night the bishops had a dinner and said goodbye to Katharine Jefferts Schori. She has been a remarkable leader and visionary and kind soul. I will miss her very much.
And--yesterday morning High Garst our youth representative read the Old Testament in the Eucharist.
The only bad news is that yesterday it was 103 in Salt Lake----I know, "It's a dry heat."
+Porter
In order to get our practice in line with our Canons, the House of Bishops also passed a resolution to take out "man and woman" in the marriage canon and replace it with "the couple." This debate was intense but respectful. We took a role call vote and the final tally was YES 129 NO 26
ABSTAIN 5. I voted YES on both resolutions.
I think these resolutions allow our Church to continue being a big tent. They don't force anyone to disobey their conscience, but they also insure
Last night the bishops had a dinner and said goodbye to Katharine Jefferts Schori. She has been a remarkable leader and visionary and kind soul. I will miss her very much.
And--yesterday morning High Garst our youth representative read the Old Testament in the Eucharist.
The only bad news is that yesterday it was 103 in Salt Lake----I know, "It's a dry heat."
+Porter
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