The Task Force on the Study of Marriage was formed via resolution of General Convention 2012. Click HERE for the resolution text.

One of the resolves called on the Task Force to assist the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to address the need for priests to officiate at same-sex marriages in jurisdictions that allow them (which is everywhere in the USA now). While we had MUCH other work to do (please read the resolution linked above), but we knew this particular aspect of our work would garner the most attention.

We were not wrong.

We published our report in November, but had released earlier last year the Dearly Beloved toolkit which is a great resource to parishes, vestries, diocesan committees, etc. to have conversations around marriage. I hope folks will continue to use the toolkit, and a resolution to extend the work of the task force was passed this week, which includes a call for the use of the toolkit church-wide.

Yesterday the House of Deputies received A054 and A036, the two marriage resolutions, from the House of Bishops who had already approved them. A054 authorizes three trial rites (trial rites are defined in the constitution as to be used church wide as steps toward prayer book revision). The first simply allows the I Will Bless You liturgy which was passed in 2012 to include the ability to solemnize the marriage (before it was a blessing liturgy only), and allowing it to be used for any couple, no matter the gender. The other two take the existing marriage rites (Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage and Blessing of a Civil Marriage) but uses gender neutral language. Bishops still have final say if the liturgies can be used in their dioceses BUT must also provide means for couples who want to use them to have access to them. Which basically means they would point them to dioceses that will allow the use.

A036 came out of the task force and was tweaked by the legislative committee on marriage. This proposed change to the marriage canon   instructs priests on various aspects of officiating marriages, including following the laws of the state, etc. Gender neutral language was reintroduced, as the marriage canon used to have. Also we  greatly improved the declaration of intent, which is to be signed by the couple in the presence of the clergy. The declaration now expressly describes, using language from the prayer book, what the church teaches about marriage. You can go to generalconvention.org which allows you to lookup the full text of resolutions if you so desire, click on the Legislation tag.

Both resolutions passed by very wide margins, after lengthy debate and a vote by orders on both. Those who opposed were appreciative of the way the resolutions offer “protection” for those whose theology disagrees with these resolutions. They also appreciated how debate took place so respectfully.

These resolutions take affect on the 1st Sunday of Advent, 2015. Bishops will determine the use of the trial liturgies in their dioceses,so look   for  communications from your bishop regarding this soon.

Obviously coming on the heels of the SCOTUS decision, these resolutions are quite significant. As a member of the Task Force on Marriage I am proud of the work we did together, the essays produced, the toolkit and the very carefully constructed change to the marriage canon. I am happy with how the bishops amended the resolutions and how the deputies responded. I am excited the work of the task force will continue and will expand and will also include more diversity in culture and theology. I sure do hope to be included but I realize that may not happen.

Meanwhile the HoD approved some resolutions on restructuring our governance. We were pretty timid in accepting the recommendations of TREC. The Executive Council remained the same size. We did eliminate all CCABs (there are over 60 interim bodies) except one on Constitution and Canons and one on Liturgy and Music. All other matters needing work will be handled by task forces either appointed by GC or the Executive Council. Task Forces expire at General Convention unless extended by action of GC, which should help tremendously.

Long sessions today with a lot of resolutions to consider. My iPad is misbehaving, consequently it took for EVER to type and post this so y next posts will probably come from home, as I leave early Friday  morning.

Reorg? Nah

Yesterday afternoon the House of Deputies (HoD) took up the first 3 resolutions from the Committee on Governance and Structure. These resolutions mainly dealt with the Executive Council, CCABs, and the budget process. After a LENGTHY explanation from the committee chairs we entered into what was supposed to be 15 minutes of questions for the committee, before actually deliberating the resolutions. The question time was extended and all this (presentation and questions) took over an hour. A lot of the questions centered on a canonical change that gives Executive Council (38 people elected either at General Convention (20) or from each province (2 each) who act as the Board of Directors in between GC. They are charged to inact what GC approves plus a bunch of other stuff. The Presiding Bishop chairs their meetings with the President of the House of Deputies as Vice Chair. They have their own committees and commissions (which are not the CCABs of General Convention – Commissions, Committees, Agencies, and Boards). And then their are other staff as well, with reporting lines blurred at times. The Exec Council also prepares the draft budget presented to the GC.

The Task Force on Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC) had recommended shrinking the size of the Exec Council, but the committee on structure proposed keeping it the same size.And they added a power to the Exec Council they do not currently have – with a 2/3 vote they can fire staff that reports to the Presiding Bishop (who is chair of the Exec Council). A strange power to give to a board, IMHO.

You know, just typing all that was boring. I know church governance can be a snoozer, and part of the issues I have with GC is how self important all this is, and I look, often, for Jesus in the midst of it all. Yet we need to be organized in some ways and the polity of the Episcopal Church gives voice to all the orders of ministry in our church – lay, deacons, priests and bishops. This is a good thing and we need to be careful to preserve it.  So this stuff is needed and necessary. But I doubt most of you reading this, or if you have made it this far, care for these details. So let me just climb on my soap box and then move on.

In 2012 I joined with several other bishops and deputies in a movement to try to streamline our governance, make GC shorter and more efficient, and address concerns of how we govern at the national level. The movement caught fire as many dioceses sent resolutions to GC to figure out the first steps. So in 2012 we passed unanimously a resolution to establish TREC and gave them carte blanche to come back with recommendations to accomplish all that. It was an impossible task but they worked really hard, had creative ways to receive input from across the church, and produced a slew of resolutions to make significant change, hoping to move from a 1950s model of church governance to one that works more horizontally and is much more “nimble” (a word we all grew weary of).

The legislative committee on governance and structure has been working on these recommendations, and others. But what I have seen so far doesn’t address major change at all. Most of the ideas from TREC are not being pushed forward or are watered down so much they won’t matter. It is a HUGE missed opportunity and, as another member of our deputation said, a great example of how impossible it is for an organization to reorg itself.

The one good thing I have seen so far is cutting the CCAB’s (see above) down to just two – one on Constitution, Canons, and Structure, and one on Liturgy and Music. That is pretty big. We have TONS of CCAB’s and while they have good people on them who work diligiently to accomplish their work, many have outlived their purpose and mainly generate resolutions for GC that keep them in business. For instance a resolution FROM a CCAB directing that same CCAB to study something or implement something manages to keep that CCAB going. Eliminating those will greatly reduce the number of resolutions  at GC as well as save lots of money. Instead of CCABs, we will have Task Forces that will have a definite purpose and which will be dissolved when that work is done or at the next GC, unless extended by the next GC, as the Task Force on Marriage has been. I like this, but already deputies are protesting eliminating their own “pet” CCAB.

There is much more coming on structure so stay tuned – if you can! Today the HoD takes up the marriage resolutions approved by the bishops  as well  as continuing the structure debates..

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!