Last fall, the Policy and Planning Commission presented the Vestry with a Report on the ongoing controversies within The Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Anglican Communion. These controversies largely involve ordination of non-celibate homosexuals, interpretation of Scripture, and breakdown of traditional boundary lines between Provinces.
One recommendation of that Report was that the Parish be regularly updated on ongoing developments related to these issues, particularly as they may affect Pohick Church. As part of that communication effort, I have been asked to provide regular reports in The Pohick Post

The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Anaheim in mid-July, passed two Resolutions on issues that have provoked much debate, discussion and tension within the Anglican Communion: Ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians, and blessing of same-sex unions. Those who supported these moves generally defend them as appropriate responses to our evolving understanding of human sexuality, and say they simply reflect the reality of the situation in our Church at the moment. Those who oppose them say go against the teachings of Scripture, and will lead to a schism.

The resolution on ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians is identified as Resolution D025. (Discussions about these often refer to them simply by their Resolution numbers, so knowing the Resolution number may help follow the discussion elsewhere) It does not explicitly end the “moratorium” on ordination of non-celibate homosexuals to the episcopacy approved in the closing minutes of the last General Convention. Instead, it begins by affirming the Episcopal Church’s continued participation in the Anglican Communion,  and encouraging dioceses, congregations and people to continue “to the fullest extent possible” their participation in “the many instruments, networks and relationships of the Anglican Communion.” It also reaffirms the Episcopal Church’s financial commitment to the Anglican Communion.

But on the critical points, it says that through the process of listening to the experience of gays and lesbians that was called for by the Lambeth Conferences, the Episcopal Church has come to recognize that our baptized membership “includes same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships.” It says gays and lesbians who are part of such relationships have responded to God's call, and exercised various ministries, within the Church over the years, and are doing so today. Therefore, it declares, “God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church…” in accordance with our existing discernment processes, and Constitution and Canons.

It also acknowledges that “members of The Episcopal Church as of the Anglican Communion, based on careful study of the Holy Scriptures, and in light of tradition and reason, are not of one mind, and Christians of good consciencedisagree about some of these matters.”

The resolution on blessings of same-sex unions is identified as Resolution C056. It says the changing circumstances in the US and elsewhere legalizing same-sex marriages or civil unions call for “a renewed pastoral response from this Church, and for an open process for the consideration of theological and liturgical resources for the blessing of same gender relationships…” It directs the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to “collect and develop theological and liturgical resources” for such blessings, and report to next General Convention three years from now.

While not explicitly allowing blessing of same-sex unions, or development of “liturgies,” it states that bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, “may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church.” This language is widely interpreted as giving bishops latitude to allow such blessings in their dioceses. It also acknowledges the disagreements on this issue by saying the Convention honors the “the theological diversity of this Church in regard to matters of human sexuality.”

Both Resolutions passed by wide margins in both the House of Bishops and House of Deputies.

Due to deadline considerations, reaction is still coming in as this article is being written. The text of C056 quoted above may not be the final form.

What do these actions mean? An editorial in The Church Times, the weekly newspaper covering the Church of England, said, “The Episcopal Church has not really broken the Communion any more than it was already.

The decision exposes the flaw at the heart of attempts to order the Communion on the basis of single issues. There is no less reason to join together at the eucharist, share theological ideas, engage in jointly funded enterprises, and so on, this week than last. A few Episcopalians have said more clearly what they have believed for some time; many still disagree with them. Nothing much has changed.

Another editorial, in “The Center Aisle” published by the Diocese of Virginia at the Convention, summed up the situation this way:

We head home a messy Church. Thanks be to God. We are, by our own proclamation, ‘not of one mind’ on matters that have caused division in the Communion….We are developing resources for same-sex blessings, without committing ourselves to ‘action.’ We will soon debate an Anglican covenant that could help clarify the bonds of Communion…

There will be cries of Armageddon in the wake of Convention’s vote for an ordination process open to all. Those doomsday predictions have been heard before. And it’s true that the passage of Resolution D025, whose nuances have been lost in much of the media coverage, could create problems in the Communion.

But this is no time to despair. The bonds between our Church and Canterbury are still strong. It’s hard to imagine a Communion that doesn’t include the National Cathedral in Washington, the mission initiatives on Native American reservations of the Dakotas, and the rustic parishes of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Discussions will continue. Compromises will be struck. Bonds of affection will be strengthened. The focus on the foundational beliefs that unite us will return. The Church, in all its glorious messiness, will move forward.”

Additional information about these developments will be provided in the fall, and an updated version will be posted on the Pohick web site.

It is important to remember that despite all these controversies, the work of the Church – globally, nationally, and locally – goes on. Hungry are fed; needy are provided for; sick are visited. Episcopal churches, including Pohick, have responded to flood victims in Iowa, and our mission team recently completed another rebuilding trip to New Orleans. Your Vestry is determined to continue our important ministry and mission.

Faithfully,

Don Brownlee
Chairman, Policy and Planning Commission