The Bishop of Texas on the Passage of D025 Monday
Resolution DO25 was passed by the House of Deputies on Monday and moved to the House of Bishops Monday afternoon.
The resolution, despite the headlines of a number of news organizations, was descriptive and offers a vision of where the Episcopal Church is at this time. It speaks to the fact that we are not of one mind on the issues of sexuality, that there is disagreement within the church on issues of ordination, marriage/unions. I think it reflects the reality that there are differences of opinion on how to deal with our differences.
I do not believe the house intended the passage of the resolution to be prescriptive. In other words the resolution did not pass same sex blessings, or ordinations of partnered gay and lesbians. It was not a permission giving resolution or a canonical change to our understanding of marriage.
Interestingly enough, DO25 passed in the HOD clergy order by a 2 to 1 margin, in the HOD lay order by a 2 to 1 margin, and in the HOB by a 2 to 1 margin. I do believe this shows some consistency within this body at this time.
The Diocese of Texas Deputation was divided in their vote and so their vote was registered as a "no" vote. This diversity, appointed by the people of the Diocese at Council, reflects who we are as a diocese. I thought our deputies did their discernment well. We shared together over lunch their thoughts and concerns about the church at home. They too felt as though the resolution was descriptive and not prescriptive.
Bishop High, Bishop Harrison and I each voted against the resolution as we have been and continue to be concerned regarding the repercussions throughout the Anglican Communion. And we were concerned with the idea that DO25 repeals BO33 from the 2006 General Convention. I should add most every one of the Episcopal Church's dioceses in a foreign country voted against the passage as well. Also, bishops of Dallas, Northwest Texas, Rio Grande and West Texas voted no.
http://edotnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/bishop-doyle-on-passage-of-d025-monday.html
The resolution, despite the headlines of a number of news organizations, was descriptive and offers a vision of where the Episcopal Church is at this time. It speaks to the fact that we are not of one mind on the issues of sexuality, that there is disagreement within the church on issues of ordination, marriage/unions. I think it reflects the reality that there are differences of opinion on how to deal with our differences.
I do not believe the house intended the passage of the resolution to be prescriptive. In other words the resolution did not pass same sex blessings, or ordinations of partnered gay and lesbians. It was not a permission giving resolution or a canonical change to our understanding of marriage.
Interestingly enough, DO25 passed in the HOD clergy order by a 2 to 1 margin, in the HOD lay order by a 2 to 1 margin, and in the HOB by a 2 to 1 margin. I do believe this shows some consistency within this body at this time.
The Diocese of Texas Deputation was divided in their vote and so their vote was registered as a "no" vote. This diversity, appointed by the people of the Diocese at Council, reflects who we are as a diocese. I thought our deputies did their discernment well. We shared together over lunch their thoughts and concerns about the church at home. They too felt as though the resolution was descriptive and not prescriptive.
Bishop High, Bishop Harrison and I each voted against the resolution as we have been and continue to be concerned regarding the repercussions throughout the Anglican Communion. And we were concerned with the idea that DO25 repeals BO33 from the 2006 General Convention. I should add most every one of the Episcopal Church's dioceses in a foreign country voted against the passage as well. Also, bishops of Dallas, Northwest Texas, Rio Grande and West Texas voted no.
http://edotnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/bishop-doyle-on-passage-of-d025-monday.html
posted by t19elves at 3:57 PM
4 Comments:
If this was only descriptive, why worry about what goes on in the Anglican Communion?
This is denial, pure and simple.
Fr. Darin+
It is indeed denial. There is a wonderfully faithful CG-only blogger, usually linked here daily, whose posting repeats that this, meaning the actions of the GC, is not reality. Over and over. But it is. Leaver or Stayer, Reappraiser or Reasserter, this is the TEC reality.
Tregonsee, you must be referring to John Burwell's blog. You are right, the entry for yesterday is great reading:
http://www.holycross.net/Convention2009/July13.html
Highly recommended.
The new bishop of Texas is young and, while he apparently feels the need to gloss over the resolution, I am just glad he voted against it. ALL of the bishops in Texas did, thanks be to God. (I do NOT consider Gulick a bishop in Texas.) As an Episcopalian in Texas, this is providing me with some consolation.
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