Here’s the video of yesterday’s sermon – somewhere along the way I’ve managed to lose the text, but the video is here in full. It is about Adam and Eve and about how their story is about now not then. There’s a nod to temptation and a chocolate boutique. I had the atonement in the back of my mind when I was writing it. Oh, and I included a semicolon. See if you can spot it.
So does the conscience clause extend only to parishes and priests? Or does it extend to bishops beyond whether they personally choose to officiate a same-sex marriage, but with regard to their diocese? As you know, the US Church allows bishops to decide for their entire diocese. Even though TEC, as a province of the AC, allows same-sex marriage, individual TEC bishops diocesan can disallow same-sex marriage in thier diocese. So there are swaths of TEC with no same-sex marriage and same-sex couples having to look elsewhere for their wedding*.
I’m not sure where Canada stands on this with regard to bishops diocesan and their dioceses. I know my home church, the Anglican Church of Mexico, ignores this issue currently. LGBT folks haven’t gained a large enough foothold in the Mexican Union to force the issue in churches outside of the massive Roman church.
*My suggestion to TEC couples is to scout around for a friendly Evangelical Lutheran Church in America parish nearby that may celebrate their nuptials with them and their family & friends. A friendly parish in the North Province of the Moravian Church in America is another option for those living within the North Province’s boundaries. Both those churches allow same-sex marriage and are in full communion with TEC. (The Alaska and the South Provinces of the Moravian Church have not yet allowed same-sex marriage.)
The bishops have agreed that this will apply to the whole church. My understanding is that the conscience clause will not extend to bishops declining to authorise people. I know that a bishop who has voted against the legislation has assured me that there would be no problem in clergy in his diocese being nominated to conduct such weddings. The principle that one person’s conscience can’t trump another person’s conscience applies.
Godspeed to you and the Scottish Episcopal Church, Kelvin. I wish you the best – an American brother. BTW, you do know that we still wear the St. Andrews cross in the shield of the Episcopal Church of the US. It isn’t for nothing.
An excellent and clear article.
Glad the vote went the way it did, though scarily close in the House of Clergy. Would I be being presumptious if I said that things can only get better from now on…….?
Delighted to hear the result of the vote and to read this compassionate, principled and sensible reflection. Best wishes and prayers as you move forward; this English clergywoman is certainly tempted to consider applying for a move north of the border.
We have a debate about how to define the membership of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Sally Gorton speaks against changing our current rules. She has done so before. Alan Thornton speaks against giving anyone other than the Rector the role of keeping the role. I think. John Armes speaks of the importance of keeping involvement of those …
We have an excellent presentation on the Millenium Development Goals. I missed who it was who did it. Can anyone help out? More information available at the back of the synod hall and coming to congregations. More here.
We hear from the Overseas Committee that the Scottish Episcopal Church is supporting training in West Africa, including paying University Fees and student bursaries. So, we are paying for university education for African Dicoeses which are growing and apparently full of life. We are not paying for such training or university degrees for people from…
Donald Reid asks us to point people towards the Festival of Spirituality website. Happy to do so: http://festivalofspirituality.org.uk/
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