What Missouri Said

Many thanks to you all for the warm comments on the thread below. You've overwhelmed me.

As I wrote there, we passed three resolutions for consideration by the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (next summer in Anaheim). I now have the text of those three as passed; this isn't the official version, but my transcription of the originals and the benign amendments made on the floor.

Resolution D-169: Regarding B033

Resolved, that the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church regrets the discrimination against some candidates for the episcopate expressed in Resolution B033 of the 75th General Convention (2006) and the hurt and alienation felt by some because of that discrimination, and be it further
Resolved, that the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church rejects the interpretation of that resolution made by the House of Bishops at its meeting in September 2007.

Resolution E-169: Same-Gender Committed Relationships

Resolved, that this Church supports and upholds persons in same-gender committed relationships of enduring love, mutuality, and fidelity, and be it further
Resolved, that the term "sexual orientation" in Title III, Canon 1, Section 2, shall protect all persons from denial of access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church solely on the basis of being in such a relationship.

Resolution F-169: Liturgies for Blessing

Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music be charged with development of liturgies of blessing for same-gender commitments to be presented to the next triennial General Convention in 2012 for inclusion in the Book of Occasional Services; and be it further
Resolved, that in the meantime the Ecclesiastical Authority of each diocese may authorize for use in the diocese liturgies for blessing same-gender committed relationships of enduring love, mutuality, and fidelity; and be it further
Resolved, that, with respect to such blessings, no bishop or clergy of this Church or any other person acting on behalf of this Church shall be required or expected to perform an act contrary to a deeply-held position of conscience.

Many thanks to Janinsanfran for pointing me to Integrity's site, which has a page that lists the diocesan resolutions relevant to B033, same-sex blessings/marriage, and the ordination/consecration of LGBTs. It's here. To my amazement, they had Missouri's resolutions up this morning. Way to go!

Thanks, too, to Beth Felice, Diocesan Communications Director Extraordinaire for providing links in the comments. In addition to the resolutions, she also provided this link to our Bishop's very fine address to the convention. Thank God for a Communications Director who's "at home" in the blogosphere! And welcome to my blog, Beth. Do drop in again.