The legislative process kicked into a higher gear yesterday. Although I spent most of my time in the House of Bishops gallery (more on that in a moment), the House of Deputies accomplished a lot today. They passed several important resolutions that put some REAL money into evangelism and mission work – digital evangelism, ministry amongst hispanics/latinos, and church planting initiatives were all approved. Remember you can go to http://www.generalconvention.org/home/legislative-resources and look up legislation by resolution number, topic, or committee.

In addition the House of Deputies (HoD) passed unanimously a resolution brought forth by the Mississippi deputation concerning the use of the Confederate battle flag. It is resolution D044, you can enter that in at the link above to read the text. It goes next to the House of Bishops for final approval.

Meanwhile the HoB took up the two big resolutions on marriage. A054 consisted of approval for trial liturgies (trial is a specific term in our constitution for liturgies we are trying out that may lead to prayer book revision) for marriages that use gender neutral language. The liturgies adapt current prayer book liturgies for marriage, as well as the “I will bless you” liturgy approved in 2012, but expanded to allow same sex couples and heterosexual couples to use the rite, which includes now a marriage component. Unfortunately I can’t find a link to the actual liturgies, but I will keep searching. A 4th liturgy based on the 1928 prayer book was removed.

In the resolution the special committee on marriage included protection for bishops who do not want to authorize these new trial rites in their dioceses. This was extremely important to several of the bishops, who expressed gratitude to the committee (and my task force) for that.

After lengthy debate, amendments, amendments to amendments, the resolution passed.

They next took up A036, which was submitted by the Task Force on Marriage of which I have been a member the last three years. We submitted this resolution to make the marriage canon gender neutral, while also cleaning up the canon in several areas. The committee added some wonderful language to the Declaration of Intent, which is signed by the couple prior to the priest approving to marry them. The declaration now includes language from the prayer book on the purposes of marriage. It is a nice improvement.

Some bishops felt A036 was going to far and redefining marriage when they felt we were not there yet theologically. That is a point of contention of course. But since we approved the trial liturgies, which are gender neutral, in order for clergy to not be in violation of the canons, the canon needed to be changed also.

Again after much debate, and a pause for prayer, this resolution passed overwhelmingly in a roll call vote, so that each bishop’s vote is recorded.  The marriage resolutions now go to the House of Deputies, who  today approved the resolution to extend the work of the marriage task force. I hope I get reappointed!!

I believe on Tuesday we begin working on the reorganization resolutions. Should be fun!