The One That Got Away - Thankfully

Below is the text of the resolution (A161) that the House of Deputies defeated the day before B033 was passed under great pressure from the PB and the PB-elect.

I've heard plenty of theorizing that those on either extreme wanted nothing else but to kill the attempt of the Special Committee to give an acceptable answer to the Windsor Report. The theory runs that nothing would have been acceptable. A foregone decision, if you will.

That was certainly not my plan - I intended to vote for something that was clear and honest - a real answer to the Windsor Report. I opposed A161 because I thought it to be dishonest, inadequate, and well, squishy - "obliged to urge... to refrain" just isn't the same as "effect a moratorium." Dan Martins told the House - "Hold your nose and vote for it." Why on earth should that be necessary? No thanks, no can do.

I regret that I was not just a bit more savvy about wording resolutions - in fact, we (Kendall Harmon and I) asked for help from the chair as they considered the constitutionality of my substitute over the lunch break. It was ruled out because it asked convention to do something it could not do without changing it's own rules. A minor adjustment ("We call on the Church to effect a moratorium...") would have left it on the floor to be voted up or down - I suspect the chair took the opportunity to simply kill it rather than let that happen. I don't know who all was in on the decision, the Parliamentarian, George Werner, others? Who knows? - it happened over lunch.

The fact is that we collectively just didn't get it. We thought that we could do something other than what we were asked to do and we thought that would be acceptable. I voted against it because I am sure that wasn't the case.


Resolution A161

Title: Election of Bishops
Topic: Anglican Communion
Committee: Special Legislative Committee
House of Initial Action: Deputies
Proposer: Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

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Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, that the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church regrets the extent to which we have, by action and inaction, contributed to strains on communion and caused deep offense to many faithful Anglican Christians as we consented to the consecration of a bishop living openly in a same-gender union. Accordingly, we are obliged to urge nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops with jurisdiction to refrain from the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion; and be it further

Resolved that this General Convention not proceed to develop or authorize Rites for the Blessing of same-sex unions at this time, thereby concurring with the Windsor Report in its exhortation to bishops of the Anglican Communion to honor the Primates’ Pastoral Letter of May 2003; and be it further

Resolved that this General Convention affirm the need to maintain a breadth of responses to situations of pastoral care for gay and lesbian Christians in this Church.

Resolved that this General Convention apologize to those gay and lesbian Episcopalians and their supporters hurt by these decisions.















The Newark Deputation at the height of their game.