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

Resources for the Blessing of

Same-Sex RelationshipsA 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 RelationshipsOverview

St. XXXX’s Episcopal Church, This Town, ST

SCLM Report1. Introduction 2. Faith, Hope, and Love: Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex

Relationships3. The Church‘s Canon Law and Laws of the States4. 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 Relationships6. Discussion Guide to “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”:

Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships7. Appendices: A Review of General Convention LegislationGlossary

2009 - C-056 Resolution

Action Items the resolution calls for? Collect and develop theological & liturgical resources Consult HOB Devise open process 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 Web-based 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 HereGeneral 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: within the bounds of our common life.• Honor theological diversity of The Episcopal Church Discussions and Resolutions also in 1985,1991, 1994, 1997

2012 GC Resolution A049• 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 A050• 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

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?

Faith, Hope and LoveTheological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships

Missional understanding of blessing: I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing (Genesis 12:2b)

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)


MISSION

Blessing always originates in GodBlessing threefold aspectsBlessing changes a coupleBlessing changes the ChurchBlessing emphasis on God’s

abundance

Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex RelationshipsTheology of Blessing – The Church’s Joy

Creation, Baptism and EucharistCharacteristics: 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 D039)

Framework and Pattern: Goodness Marked as Christ’s ownTake - Bless – Break – Give*


Covenantal Relationship - The Church’s Life

Loving Our Neighbors as Ourselves

Called into CovenantThe Vocation of Households Faithful Intimacy Mutual Blessing and Fruitfulness


Covenantal Relationship - The Church’s Life

BCP: Pray for Christian unityChallenges to God‘s gift of unity - Not New

I Corinthians 3:1-9Romans 12:3-8Galatians 2:2-21 Acts 10:9-47

C056: Acknowledges differences of opinion concerning the interpretation of Scripture and Same-Sex relationships


Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation - The Church’s

Challenge

First words from this section: All of us have more to learn from Scripture

and from each other. 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.

Writers in our shared Anglican history have often turned to “a theologically informed and spiritually sustained patience”



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 ministersOLD: Economic reform, divorce and remarriage, contraceptionMORE RECENT: slavery, role of women & Same-Sex relationships



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.



Challenge

The Church‘s Canon Law and Laws of the States

A. Civil Law considerations: blessing a Same-Sex

couple’s covenantal relationship – OK (1st Amendment)

B. Canonical considerations:More complex

Legal and Canonical Guidelines for Clergy

For help, see the example scenarios in the Resource.

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?

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:Broad areasAdjustable to contextAbout “opening/having the

conversation”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: HistoryStudy Area Two: Theology and the

BibleStudy Area Three: LiturgyStudy Area Four: Civil and Canon

LawStudy Area Five: Mission

Hearing, Seeing, and Declaring New Things

Preparing Same-sex Couples for a Liturgy of Blessing Overview: Pastoral Care for Same-

sex Couples1. Materials for Pastoral Preparation2. Particular Issues Affecting Same-

sex Couples3. Presenters4. Outline of Pre-Blessing

Preparation for Same-sex Couples

THE LITURGY

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

What kind of relationships are we blessing?

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.

People not Concept

Documents

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