truth and love

[Written 7/12; Posted 7/13]

I am sitting in the visitors’ gallery at the rear of the Plenary space for the House of Deputies. For the past hour and a half, the Deputies have been engaged in a legislative session regarding Resolution D025- the proposed way forward for the Episcopal Church from the pause it agreed to take in 2006 with the last minute passage of the compromise resolution B033(which instituted moratoria on election and consecration of LGBT bishops and the development of rites for same-gender blessings.)

This Convention, the World Mission legislative committee had the task of pulling together all of the resolutions that came forward to address the next steps for our church. After gathering testimony and prayerful consideration, the committee has brought this resolution to the floor of the House of Deputies. It holds together three basic premises: The Episcopal Church desires to maintain a vigorous commitment to its relationships with member churches of the Anglican Communion. It also finds that the Episcopal Church is not of one mind when it comes to its own stance on full inclusion of LGBT members in the sacramental life of the church, and finally commits to being truthful about the realities on the ground in the Episcopal Church (namely our church’s witness to the presence of faithful same-gender relationships and ministry of LGBT persons in all orders of the church).

Just before the vote was taken (they are tabulating the votes as I write), the President of the House invited the Chaplain of the House forward and prayer was offered before voting. He opened his prayer by recounting that it has been said that “Love without truth is superficiality. And truth without love is brutality” He went on to ask God’s help to this church as it endeavors to bring truth and love together.

Truthfulness as a theme has echoed through convention testimony following the address by Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams. In his remarks he described our current crisis in the global economy as, at its root, a crisis of truthfulness. For a fuller summary of his remarks, see:http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112163_ENG_HTM.htm



The vote just came in. The House of Deputies has passed the resolution.

For more detailed description of Resolution D025, follow this link: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_112451_ENG_HTM.htm

Now D025 goes to the House of Bishops for their consideration.

Lisa+