A task force in the Diocese of California has concluded that “now is the time to acknowledge in convention our diocesan practice of 22 years.” The committee, charged by the diocesan bishop, the Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, to consider a variety of issues related to the status of marriage and the blessing of same-gender covenants in Church and society, has proposed three resolutions to be considered at convention in the fall.

Resolution 1 asks convention to extend the life of the task force for another five years. The second resolution directs the commission on marriage and blessing to develop, for distribution at the convention in 2007, resources relating to the ethics and pastoral theology of lifelong committed relationships. The third resolution directs the commission on liturgy and music and the commission on marriage and blessing to jointly prepare for consideration by the 2007 convention a rite or rites which formalize the blessing of same-gender unions in the diocese, together with a policy for the use of said rite or rites.

The 21-member task force has met throughout the past year to study the issue and has concluded that while there is widespread consensus within the Diocese of California as to the appropriateness of blessing same-gender covenants, there remains a diversity of opinion regarding the relationship between marriage and same-sex covenants. Bishop Swing has permitted clergy to perform same-sex blessings for baptized members of the diocese on a case-by-case basis since 1983.

With respect to the current crisis within the Anglican Communion, the task force concluded “differences in our understanding and practice of marriage and blessing same-gender covenants do not undermine the doctrinal foundations of the Church’s life and faith.” Disagreement on this issue is a matter of theological opinion, the task force concluded. “This is a conversation among sisters and brothers in Christ, who sometimes disagree. This disagreement is just that – disagreement: not apostasy or heresy or conformity or dissent. It is simply a disagreement among adults who share responsibility for proclaiming the good news of God in word and deed.”

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