Resources for the Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships A

Resources for the Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships A sample presentation for use by presenters who are very familiar with the SCLM’s whole report, i. e you have read, marked and inwardly digested the report, “I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing”

Resources for the Blessing of Same-Sex Relationships Overview St. XXXX’s Episcopal Church, This Town, ST

SCLM Report 1. Introduction 2. Faith, Hope, and Love: Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships 3. The Church‘s Canon Law and Laws of the States 4. Hearing, Seeing, and Declaring New Things: Preparing Same-Sex Couples for a Liturgy of Blessing 5. The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant: Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships 6. Discussion Guide to “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”: Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships 7. Appendices: A Review of General Convention Legislation Glossary

2009 - C-056 Resolution Action Items the resolution calls for? v Collect and develop theological & liturgical resources v Consult HOB v Devise open process v Invite participation

How did the SCLM Respond? An Open Process • Early 2010 – Created 4 Task Groups Liturgical, Theological, Pastoral & Teaching, and Civil/Canon Law. Secured funding for the work. • July 2010 - The SCLM and Task Groups met and 4 more times over the next 14 months. • September 2010 - Consultation with the House of Bishops. • October 2010 - Province I Hearing.

• October 2010 -January 2011 - Churchwide Webbased Survey Regarding Pastoral Counseling and Teaching Materials. 1, 131 responses, 111 dioceses, all 9 Provinces. • March 2011 - Churchwide Consultation. 195 Deputies (lay & ordained) from 98 dioceses • July 2011 - Review of Draft Resources. 133 reviewers, lay and ordained, from all 9 provinces. • September 2011 – House of Bishops review final drafts. • Informal networks of Bishops and Task Group members in and across various dioceses.

Inviting Reflection from throughout the Anglican Communion • Anglican Church of Canada shared insights and liturgies • Bishops invited to share Liturgical and Theological principles with Anglican Bishops • International Anglican Liturgical Consultation (IALC). Discussion with 55 people from 19 Provinces of the Anglican Communion.

Remembering How We Got Here General Convention’s work over 35 years: • 1976: First discussion and resolution: homosexual persons are children of God • 2000: Clarity about Same-Sex couples: such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, holy love • 2003: Liturgies celebrating/blessing relationship: the bounds of our common life. within • Honor theological diversity of The Episcopal Church Discussions and Resolutions also in 1985, 1991, 1994, 1997

2012 GC Resolution A 049 • Commend Blessing material for study & use • Authorize Liturgy for provisional use under Bp’s direction • States where Same-Sex legal status: – Bishop generous pastoral response – May adapt Liturgy & Declaration of Intention • Discretion to use/not use; no one coerced or punished • Continue to honor theological diversity and include it • Develop open process of review (Episcopal and Anglican) and report back in 2015

2012 GC Resolution A 050 • Task Force - explore biblical, theological, historical, liturgical, and canonical dimensions of marriage • Consider issues of social & cultural change that include, but are not limited to, Same-Sex couples • Develop tools for theological reflection and norms for local theological discussion • Report back 2015 • Request $30, 000 for implementation

Faith, Hope and Love Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Four Sections: 1. Mission: What does the Church believe these blessings will contribute to God‘s own work of redeeming and reconciling love in the world? 2. Blessings: What does the Church believe is happening when it pronounces God‘s blessing? 3. Covenant: What does the Church believe are the distinguishing marks of a holy covenant? 4. Unity: What is the relationship between Christian unity and our differing approaches to biblical interpretation regarding Same-Sex relationships?

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships MISSION Missional understanding of blessing: I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing (Genesis 12: 2 b) Christians - Missional understanding of covenantal blessing: grace they received in Christ not for themselves alone but so that they could bear witness to that grace - in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1: 8) Jesus - life of faith has mission: no one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house (Matthew 5: 15)

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships MISSION Worship - Church‘s rites from the Daily Office to the Holy Eucharist: we give thanks for God‘s blessings, and we pray for the grace we need to manifest that blessing in the world, to ―do the work [God has] given us to do (BCP pg. 366) Eschatological Vision: we collaborate with God as both proclaimers of and instruments for the new creation God is bringing about Challenge: expanding mission in response to God‘s extravagant grace and blessing (Acts 10)

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Theology of Blessing – The Church’s Joy Blessing always originates in God Blessing threefold aspects Blessing changes a couple Blessing changes the Church Blessing emphasis on God’s abundance

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Covenantal Relationship - The Church’s Life Creation, Baptism and Eucharist Characteristics: fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God (GC 2000 D 039) Framework and Pattern: v. Goodness v. Marked as Christ’s own v. Take - Bless – Break – Give*

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Covenantal Relationship - The Church’s Life Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves Called into Covenant The Vocation of Households Faithful Intimacy Mutual Blessing and Fruitfulness

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation The Church’s Challenge BCP: Pray for Christian unity Challenges to God‘s gift of unity - Not New q. I Corinthians 3: 1 -9 q. Romans 12: 3 -8 q. Galatians 2: 2 -21 q. Acts 10: 9 -47 C 056: Acknowledges differences of opinion concerning the interpretation of Scripture and Same-Sex relationships

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation The Church’s Challenge First words from this section: v All of us have more to learn from Scripture and from each other. v In faithfulness to Christ, we acknowledge and respect those differences among us in our fervent hope that disagreements over this biblical material need not divide the Church. v Writers in our shared Anglican history have often turned to “a theologically informed and spiritually sustained patience”

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation The Church’s Challenge Agreement: the saving love and grace of God in Christ Disagreements: Marked church life throughout history: OLDER: Usury, canon of Scripture, liturgical vestments, place of music, role of ordained ministers OLD: Economic reform, divorce and remarriage, contraception MORE RECENT: slavery, role of women & Same. Sex relationships

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation The Church’s Challenge The Great Example of Re-Interpretation: Acts 15 • Process of prayerful deliberation adopted by those early believers • The apostles sought a way to honor the centrality of Scripture while also attending carefully to the ongoing movement of the Spirit in their midst. The importance of this historical moment lies in modeling the process those early believers adopted.

The Church‘s Canon Law and Laws of the States A. Civil Law considerations: blessing a Same-Sex couple’s covenantal relationship – OK (1 st Amendment) B. Canonical considerations: More complex

Legal and Canonical Guidelines for Clergy Does your state recognize Same-Sex marriages? Does your state recognize civil unions? Is your state a DOMA state? Does your bishop allow you to liturgically bless Same-Sex unions? What can I do? It depends! Does your bishop allow you to legally solemnize Same-Sex unions? For help, see the example scenarios in the Resource.

Legal and Canonical Guidelines for Clergy What can I do? It depends! But… One thing is clear: With General Convention’s agreement, if your Bishop authorizes the use of the Liturgy for Same-Sex Blessings, then … You may officiate at the liturgy in your diocese.

Three Other Sections • Education – Helping a congregation decide whether or not to make same-sex blessings a part of their liturgical life • Pastoral Care - Preparing the couple • The Liturgy – Authorized for provisional use

Discussion Guide to “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”: Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships 5 Study Areas for Congregations: v. Broad areas v. Adjustable to context v. About “opening/having the conversation” v. Mutual Respect/Covenant

Discussion Guide to “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”: Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships Study Area One: History Study Area Two: Theology and the Bible Study Area Three: Liturgy Study Area Four: Civil and Canon Law Study Area Five: Mission

Hearing, Seeing, and Declaring New Things Preparing Same-sex Couples for a Liturgy of Blessing Overview: Pastoral Care for Same-sex Couples 1. Materials for Pastoral Preparation 2. Particular Issues Affecting Samesex Couples 3. Presenters 4. Outline of Pre-Blessing Preparation for Same-sex Couples

THE LITURGY

What kind of relationships are we blessing? Most Frequently asked Questions • Clarity of GC’s request • Same expectations for Same-Sex couples as different-sex couples • Look through the lens of the Declaration of Intention as required in a marriage and adapted for lifelong covenant

People not Concept Two of the SCLM’s most important “discoveries: ” 1. About real couples … trying to love one another, be in relationship, find support / blessing from God and community. 2. We are backing into this ministry. Blessings were already happening. General Convention asked SCLM to learn what’s been done and bring a report to be considered.