“Claiming the
Blessing” urges TEC action on Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill
Claiming the Blessing joins religious and human
rights leaders around the globe in condemning the “Anti-Homosexuality” bill
that was introduced in the Ugandan parliament in October 2009.
One of the most homophobic pieces of legislation
ever conceived, the bill in question would imprison anyone who knows of the
existence of a gay or lesbian person and fails to give their names to the
police within 24 hours, require a sentence of life imprisonment for anyone
who “touches another person with the intention of committing the act of
homosexuality,” and limit the distribution of HIV information through a
provision criminalizing the “promotion of homosexuality." Beyond that, it
creates a crime of “aggravated homosexuality,” punishing anyone who is
HIV-positive with death for having consensual same-sex relations.
We call on the Episcopal Church to join those
speaking out in opposition to this draconian and dehumanizing legislation –
legislation already condemned by the resolution of General Convention
(2006-D005) that declared “our opposition to the imposition of civil or
criminal penalties, especially imprisonment and execution, upon gay and
lesbian people and our opposition to laws anywhere in the world that
specifically target and impose imprisonment for homosexual behavior, speech,
or assembly of gay and lesbian people and their supporters.”
We applaud the strong statement from the Canadian
Anglicans and urge our Executive Council to “go and do likewise” when they
meet in special session regarding these matters on December 7. We do so
remembering that we claim a baptismal covenant requiring us to “respect the
dignity of every human being,” that 1998 Lambeth Conference Resolution 1:10
called upon the Church to reject the irrational fear of homosexual persons
and that Resolution D005 of our own 2006 General Convention declared “that
efforts to criminalize homosexual behavior are incompatible with the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.” Clearly, the proposed Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill
fails to meet any of these standards.
We believe the “Year of the Lord’s Favor” our
Presiding Bishop preached about at her investiture includes the liberation
of those held captive by homophobia. Our Ugandan LGBT brothers and sisters
need to hear the word of hope the Episcopal Church can give by joining those
opposing this legislation. The time to stand up and be counted is now. We
urge our elected and appointed leaders of the Episcopal Church to stand up
and to speak out on behalf of the gospel.
Signed: Ms Peggy Adams, the Rev. Canon Dr. J.
Edwin Bacon, the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Black, Dr. Louie Crew, Mr. Thomas Jackson,
the Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Kaeton, the Reverend Joseph Lane, the Reverend
Susan B.P. Norris, the Reverend Canon Susan Russell, the Reverend Jason
Samuel, Canon James B. White
Claiming the Blessing [CTB] is an unincorporated
coalition of Episcopal organizations and individuals focused on promoting
wholeness in human relationships, abolishing prejudice and oppression, and
healing the rift between sexuality and spirituality in the Church.
Represented organizations include All Saints Church, Pasadena; Episcopal
Women’s Caucus; Integrity USA; Oasis, California; and Oasis, Missouri; For
more information visit our website:www.claimingtheblessing.org
Massachusetts Bishop Shaw Allows
Marriage of Same Gender Couples
Bishop Thomas Shaw Has given his clergy approval to marry same gender
couples. He writes:
Christian marriage is a sacramental rite that has evolved in the church,
along with confirmation, ordination, penance, and the anointing of the sick,
and while it is not necessary for all, it must be open to all as a means of
grace and sustenance to our Christian hope. I believe this because the truth
of it is in our midst, revealed again and again by the many marriages—of
women and men, and of persons of the same gender—that are characterized,
just as our church expects, by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and
respect, and the holy love which enables spouses to see in one another the
image of God. ... While gender-specific language remains unchanged in the
canons and The Book of Common Prayer, our provision of generous pastoral
response means that same-gender couples can be married in our diocese. We
request that our clergy follow as they ordinarily would the other canonical
requirements for marriage and remarriage.
We have not arrived at this place in our common life easily or quickly. We
have not done it alone. This decision comes after a long process of
listening, prayer and discernment leading up to and continuing after General
Convention’s action this past summer.
Our Diocesan Convention recently adopted a resolution of its own expressing
its collective hope for the very determination that your bishops have made.
Even so, we know that not all are of one mind and that some in good faith
will disagree with this decision. Our Anglican tradition makes space for
this disagreement and calls us to respect and engage one another in our
differences. It is through that tension that we find God’s ultimate will.
We also know that by calling us to minister in the context of this
particular place and time God is again blessing our diocese with a great
challenge by which we might enter more fully into that ethic of love which
Jesus speaks to us through the New Testament.
It is an immeasurable love given for all. We are being asked to live it, all
of us, children of God, each with equal claim upon the love, acceptance and
pastoral care of this church, so that the newness and fullness of life
promised through word and sacrament might be for all people and for the
completion of God’s purpose for the world.
/s/ M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE
A Look Back At General Convention 2009
I am amazed at how much we accomplished - our bishops and diocesan deputation worked long and hard - they deserve our thanks and praise. For an overview of what happened - and some commentary on what we did - check out my Lambeth Pilgrim blog at
http://lambethpilgrim.wordpress.com.
During Convention I testified for Oasis in support of four resolutions wrote two articles for the diocesan web site, wrote 20 posts for the Lambeth Pilgrim blog, posted 180 news stories to that blog, and tweeted more than 900 times. Most of those tweets were summaries of what one person while testifying before a committee or speaking on the floor of the House of Deputies or the House of Bishops. I did not realize the impact of these tweets (@tcjackson2009) one of the bishops came up to me, the new Bishop of
Ecuador embraced me and said “thanks for all your tweets.” Now I understand the power of Twitter.
This was the first convention when the Episcopal Church supported the rights of Transgender people.
Bishops Marc worked behind the scenes and in House of Bishops sessions on our behalf. In terms of LGBT concerns, Bishop Marc is a leading light in our church, speaking truth to power while also building bonds with his colleagues. Bishop Steven – who electrified the Convention with his sermon calling for protecting the earth, was equally effective in the House of Bishops. The Rt. Rev. Otis Charles, the retired Bishop of Utah and longtime Oasis friend, added his voice and vote during Convention.
Many of our Deputies worked to achieve this goal: Michael Barlowe and Sarah Lawton spoke for Trans resolutions with grace and eloquence on the Flow of the House of Deputies.
With their words and stories, Rev. Vicki Gray and her colleagues from TransEpiscopal moved the hearts and minds of deputies and bishops alike. Integrity ran a superb convention effort: it seemed Integrity President Susan Russell was on the front lie at every place where she was needed. The Integrity team – which includes our friend Jan Adams – was on top of every meeting, development and opportunity. I’ve omitted many names of those who deserve our thanks – I’m still reeling a bit as I try to get ready for work Monday.
Here’s the Cliff notes of GC 2009: our campaign to include all of the baptized in all of the sacraments moved farther toward reality than I hoped, expected or dreamed. I went expecting a contentions convention; I found a place where diverse opinions did not translate into interpersonal divisions, where rancor was checked at the door, where people of differing views got along. And that was in the House of BISHOPS! I found GC 2009 to be filled with the Holy Spirit, not what I expected and far better than I had ever dreamed.
More later –
Thomas C. Jackson
President, Oasis
General Convention Photos
Prop 8 Decision Day:
We prayed, we marched, we protested,
we got arrested.
Pride Mass, Pride Booth & March down Market
Street
Highlights Our Celebration of SF Pride 2009
On Pride Sunday, Bishop Marc Handley Andrus of the Episcopal
Diocese of California joined Lutheran Bishop Mark Holmerud in celebrating
the eucharist in the assembly area before today's San Francisco Pride
parade (top left). Deacon Vicki Gray read the gospel (Top right) and Oasis
Board Members Judy Lebens and Justin Cannon receive communion at the Pride
Mass (Bottom left). The Oasis contingents then marched down Market Street. Here's the full report on our San Francisco Pride
participation.
What happened at Lambeth in 2008?
If you
want to know what happened in Canterbury during the Lambeth Conference,
you can:
