Last from Columbus

General Convention is over. The spin continues. It was a difficult day. After concurring with the House of Bishops a day or two ago (everything is in a bit of a fog for me) to the election of a Bishop for Northern California who had been divorced twice and married three times we then concurred with the House of Bishops to Resolution B-033 that included the phrase, "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion". The contradiction is huge. What we all know, but did not say, is that "manner of life" translated is "living in a committed relationship with a member of the same sex".

Let me walk you through what led up to the vote on this resolution. After the Eucharist, the House of Bishops came to the floor of the House of Deputies and we were spoken to by The Most Rev. Frank Griswold. In effect we were told to vote for this resolution for the good of the Anglican Communion. We still want a place at the table of the Communion that we might be heard. Following this invasion of the House, debate began. It seemed to me that the debate was going down the same path as it had the day before when the House defeated A161 which said in effect the same thing as B-033. A parliamentary decision (which was protested) allowed B-033 to proceed. I believe that that decision was in error. What do I know, just a simple priest from the woods of Michigan, the mountains of Montana and the Great Plains of South Dakota and Nebraska? I still think that it was wrong and manipulative. Whatever, it was allowed. More debate, and then the trump card was played. Who was invited to speak to the House of Deputies but the newly elected to be Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori! You must remember that this is the same Presiding Bishop elect who had just been cheered by most of General Convention in response to her election. She made it very clear that she supports the full inclusion of gays and lesbians in the full life of the Church but that she needed this resolution for now that conversations might continue with much of the Anglican Communion. Well, that became a dilemma. More debate and then the vote, by orders. I voted no. I did so for many reasons not the least of which was what I see as a growing sense of power in the House of Bishops at the expense of the House of
Deputies. We were in fact lectured about our action the day before and that we must pass B-033. That is where we are. B-033 can be interpreted any way that you like. It must be made clear however, to much of the Anglican Communion, that it is not what we mean. The deputation that sat in front of Nebraska was in tears. Many in the Episcopal Church were told to make the sacrifice of the Cross for the good of the many. "How long, O Lord!" The far left and the far right voted the same way for many different reasons. We were told that the Church has two heads and that when conjoined twins are considered for separation, both must be assured of "quality of life" or something like that. I do not accept that analogy either for the twins or for the Episcopal Church. I believe that we are asked to walk the hard way of the Cross even if we have to walk it alone. Seems to me that someone else did that as well. So, the Bishops of the Episcopal Church will now probably be invited to the Lambeth Conference, have tea with the Queen and have their picture taken. Then, eventually, the decision will be made that everyone is a child of God, that there are no outcasts, that love has no restrictions and that the Church is called to be the voice in the wilderness that cries out for the fullness and courage of the Gospel.

By the way, General Convention voted today to support A129 to affirm Creation and Evolution: "That the theory of evolution provides a fruitful and unifying scientific explanation for the emergence of life on earth and that an acceptance of evolution is entirely compatible with an authentic and living Christian faith. Welcome to the 19th Century, we must not move too quickly!

I do not mean to be harsh and I apologize to those who receive these comments as so. We apologized for a lot of stuff today as well. Ironic, since we are in Columbus!

Dean Hurley