With a March 17 presidential speech declaring war with Iraq to be a virtual certainty, the House of Bishops chose to adjourn its spring retreat a day-and-a-half early, but not before the full house held a substantive theological discussion on the meaning of liturgy and the gift of sexuality.

Written by a 13-member Theology Committee that included prominent bishops and seven theologians from academia, the report attempts to characterize the respective positions both for and against a proposal to authorize development of a liturgy for blessing homosexual relationships.

The Gift of Sexuality: a theological statement unanimously recommends against moving to authorize a trial same-sex liturgy at this time, noting that liturgy or worship is the primary means by which Episcopalians define themselves as Christians and that the Episcopal Church remains deeply divided over the proposed change.

A pro same-sex blessing position paper prepared and distributed to every bishop in advance of the meeting reportedly was not discussed by the house.

Shortly before the start of the bishops’ retreat-meeting at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina, advocates of a same-sex liturgy began to question whether the house already had decided to reject the proposal prior to an open debate at General Convention. In an effort to continue conversation on the issue, the coalition decided to go public with its concerns and to make copies of its own position paper available to all members of the house.

Small-group discussion at Kanuga suggested the house was not of one mind, with individual members of the house unable to come to a consensus even on whether a liturgical blessing constituted a matrimonial commitment or something else.