Communion Partners response to General Convention marriage changes

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Editor’s Note: The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, meeting in Salt Lake City in late June, approved canonical and liturgical changes to the Church’s position on marriage. The canonical changes eliminate language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) and authorize two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054). A group of dissenting bishops, including the Rt. Rev. Gregory Brewer, Central Florida, have issued the following statement in response:

Communion Partners Salt Lake City Statement

The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, in passing Resolutions A036 and A054, has made a significant change in the Church’s understanding of Christian marriage. As bishops of the Church, we must dissent from these actions.

We affirm Minority Report #1, which was appended to the text of Resolution A036: The nature, purpose, and meaning of marriage, as traditionally understood by Christians, are summed up in the words of the Book of Common Prayer:

“The bond and covenant of marriage was established by God in creation, and our Lord Jesus Christ adorned this manner of life by his presence and first miracle at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. It signifies to us the mystery of the union between Christ and his Church, and Holy Scripture commends it to be honored by all people.

The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord” (BCP, p. 423)

The nature, purpose, and meaning of marriage are linked to the relationship of man and woman. The promises and vows of marriage presuppose husband and wife as the partners who are made one flesh in marriage. This understanding is a reasonable one, as well as in accord with Holy Scripture and Christian tradition in their teaching about marriage.

When we were ordained as bishops in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, we vowed to “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church of God” (BCP, p. 518). We renew that promise; and in light of the actions of General Convention, and of our own deep pastoral and theological convictions, we pledge ourselves to

  • “Maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). The bonds created in baptism are indissoluble, and we share one bread and one cup in the Eucharist. We are committed to the Church and its people, even in the midst of painful disagreement.
  • “Speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15). When we disagree with the Church’s actions, we will do so openly and transparently and – with the Spirit’s help – charitably. We are grateful that Resolution A054 includes provision for bishops and priests to exercise their conscience; but we realize at the same time that we have entered a season in which the tensions over these difficult matters may grow. We pray for the grace to be clear about our convictions and, at the same time, to love brothers and sisters with whom we disagree.
  • “Welcome one another . . . just as Christ has welcomed [us]” (Rom. 15:7). Our commitment to the Church includes a commitment to our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. We will walk with them, pray with and for them, and seek ways to engage in pastoral conversation. We rejoice that Jesus’ embrace includes all of us.

We are mindful that the decisions of the 78th General Convention do not take place in isolation. The Episcopal Church is part of a larger whole, the Anglican Communion. We remain committed to that Communion and to the historic See of Canterbury, and we will continue to honor the three moratoria requested in the Windsor Report and affirmed by the Instruments of Communion.

We invite bishops and any Episcopalians who share these commitments to join us in this statement, and to affirm with us our love for our Lord Jesus Christ, our commitment to The Episcopal Church, and the Anglican Communion, and our dissent from these actions.

Communion Partner signatories:

  • The Rt. Rev’d John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee
  • The Rt. Rev’d Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop of Central Florida
  • The Rt. Rev’d Daniel W. Herzog, Bishop of Albany, resigned
  • The Rt. Rev’d Paul E. Lambert, Bishop Pro Tem of Dallas
  • The Rt. Rev’d Edward S. Little II, Bishop of Northern Indiana
  • The Rt. Rev’d William H. Love, Bishop of Albany
  • The Rt. Rev’d Daniel H. Martins, Bishop of Springfield
  • The Rt. Rev’d Edward L. Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina, resigned
  • The Rt. Rev’d William J. Skilton, Assistant Bishop of Dominican Republic, resigned
  • The Rt. Rev’d Michael G. Smith, Bishop of North Dakota
  • The Rt. Rev’d Don A. Wimberly, Bishop of Texas, resigned

Other signatories:

  • The Rt. Rev’d E. Ambrose Gumbs, Bishop of Virgin Islands
  • The Rt. Rev’d Julio Holguin, Bishop of Dominican Republic
  • The Rt. Rev’d Alfredo Morante, Bishop of Ecuador Litoral
  • The Rt. Rev’d Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti
  • The Rt. Rev’d Francisco José Duque Gómez, Bishop of Colombia
  • The Rt. Rev’d Orlando Guerrero, Venezuela
  • The Rt. Rev’d Lloyd Allen, Bishop of Honduras

Episcopalians may register their public support of the above statement at http://www.communionpartners.org/?page_id=212
Please provide name; diocese and congregation; email or mailing address; and indicate whether one is a bishop, priest, deacon or lay person.

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