Bishop Marc Andrus of California announced in a letter that the diocese will soon begin an advertising campaign “celebrating the [recent California] Supreme Court ruling and inviting same-sex couples to our churches for pre-marital counseling and nourishment in communities of faith.”
 
The June 9 letter also noted that all couples, regardless of orientation, will be encouraged first to be married in a secular service and then have the relationship blessed in The Episcopal Church.
 
California state law grants county clerks wide latitude to designate deputy commissioners of civil marriages who may solemnize marriages. Bishop Andrus urged Episcopalians to volunteer as deputy marriage commissioners and said he would volunteer at his earliest opportunity.
 
“This would be one sign of affirmation for the Supreme Court ruling from our diocese,” Bishop Andrus said. “By city requirement, clergy will not be allowed to wear collars when presiding at secular marriages.”
 
“For far too long the onus has fallen on marginalized people to bear the burden of inequalities that exist within the church, and the decision by our state’s Supreme Court has given us the opportunity to level the playing field,” Bishop Andrus wrote. “To that end the Diocese of California seeks to provide, by advocacy and example, a way forward for The Episcopal Church so that the marriage of same-sex couples will be a part of our official marriage rites, without distinction. Although The Episcopal Church does not have canonical rites for same-sex marriage, it is our goal that all couples be treated equally by the church, as they are equally loved by God.”
 
Bishop Andrus listed seven expectations to be considered by clergy and couples for future marriages under the new policy, which Bishop Andrus said would remain in effect until a permanent diocesan policy is established. Under the new interim policy, the three rites approved for trial use at diocesan convention last fall should be commended to all couples to bless the secular marriage, all couples must be willing to undergo the diocesan pre-marriage counseling program and “all people receiving blessings of civil marriages in the Diocese of California are free to use the same degree of publicity (e.g., newspaper notices),” Bishop Andrus said adding “the proper sphere for Episcopal clergy is the blessing portion of the marriage.”
 
Bishop Andrus concluded by announcing that he has already begun formation of a panel of diocesan clergy “to make recommendations about how to move toward equality of marriage rites for all people.” He also pledged to make public “my opposition to the initiative to overturn the recent Supreme Court ruling” which is expected to appear on the California electoral ballot in November.
 
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