The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island’s 219th convention has affirmed General Convention’s resolutions on openly gay nominees for the episcopate and pastoral blessings for same-sex couples.

Meeting on Oct. 23 and 24, the convention affirmed Resolutions D025 and C056. The Rt. Rev. Geralyn Wolf, Bishop of Rhode Island since 1996, voted against both resolutions at General Convention.

A post-convention statement by diocesan chancellor Edmund C. Bennett stressed that the convention’s approval of the resolutions does not affect diocesan policy.

“The policy in the Diocese of Rhode Island remains the same: until General Convention provides official authorization, Bishop Wolf will not authorize the use of public liturgical rites for the blessing of same-gender unions,” Chancellor Bennett wrote.

In other resolutions, the convention:

• Renewed the diocese’s companion relationships with the dioceses of Ezo (Sudan) and Louisiana.

• Created a task force to evaluate the diocese’s mission priorities.

• Affirmed Christian formation for children, youth and college students, and endorsed distributing the Charter For Lifelong Education to every congregation.

• Praised the diocese’s prison chaplaincy.

• Endorsed The Earth Charter and encouraged conservation and recycling.

• Urged congregations to consider planting community gardens.

• Encouraged congregations to pray regularly for people who are persecuted for their religious beliefs.

• Required that all records of diocesan conventions since 2000 be completed and made available on the diocesan website by the end of 2009.

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