It’s now [Friday] the final day of the 2009 General Convention, with most of the work of the Convention done. The Presiding Bishop in her concluding sermon reminded bishops and deputies that an important task lies ahead: taking the work of the Convention back to our dioceses in a graceful and life-giving way. In the weeks ahead our deputation will reflect together and seek ways to share our experience with the Diocese of Tennessee, with clergy and laity alike. My comments at this point in the Convention do not have the benefit of that consultation and reflection, but I offer them as prelude to a more considered response.
Financial matters have occupied the attention of the General Convention. The Convention has been forced by our current circumstances to reduce the programs and personnel of the Episcopal Church by a significant amount. We are told that many staff positions at the Church Center will be eliminated in the budget for 2010-2012. Some longstanding programs of the Church will no longer be funded by the budget, and other desirable new programs will not be able to be introduced. These are sobering developments. The same constraints that operate on the local level have had a ripple effect throughout the life of the Church.
The Constitutional change that would have eliminated the vote for retired bishops was referred by the House of Bishops for more study, effectively ending the attempt begun in 2006 to make this change. The bishops believed that more consideration needed to be given to a more nuanced approach that might put the burden of considering financial issues on active bishops, while not depriving us of the “wisdom of our elders”.
Much of the press reporting about the Convention has centered on Resolutions D025 and C056, which addressed issues of access for all people to the ordination process, and the development of resources and liturgies for same-sex blessings for the Church to consider during this next Triennium.
Please note that Resolution D025 does not mention the 2006 General Convention Resolution B033, which had urged restraint in the ordination of persons to the episcopate who might not be acceptable to the wider Communion; still, D025 has been widely perceived as moving the Episcopal Church “beyond” B033. I see the Resolution as ambiguous at best, yet a large number of people in the Convention interpret it as a weakening of our resolve to abide by the moratorium against the consecration to the episcopate of a person in a same-sex partnership commended to us, first in the Windsor Report and now by the Instruments of Communion.
Resolution C056 does not authorize same-sex blessings at present, yet it does move us closer to the adoption of rites. Again, this movement conflicts with the request by the Instruments of Communion that Churches refrain from authorizing liturgies for the blessing of same-sex unions.
It is clear that the majority of deputies and bishops at the General Convention desire to move ahead on these issues; yet it is also true that a minority do not wish to do so. I voted against both D025 and C056 because I hope that the Episcopal Church will remain a constituent member Church of the Anglican Communion, and also because I believe that this is the best way forward for us in our local context as a diocese to remain connected to each another. I have signed the “Anaheim Statement” that has been widely reported on blog sites. I think this statement speaks for itself, clearly and honestly.
You know I have a passion for the Church and for the connection we have in Christ. When I visit our parishes and missions the reality of the Church is made visible for me in your faces. There is so much that I could say about the life we have together in Christ as a Church. It is precious to me. There are many different angles of approach when Christians consider these weighty issues, which I freely recognize and acknowledge. I’m committed to remaining connected to all of you, in spite of different perspectives.
Please continue to pray for our deputation as we make our way back to Tennessee. We look forward to being home. – Bishop John
