FINAL VERSION
Resolution:C039
Title:Reaffirmation of Conformity to Canon III.1.2
Topic:Consecration of Bishops
Committee:08 - World Mission
House of Initial Action:Deputies
Proposer:Diocese of Washington

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 76th General Convention of The Episcopal Church call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to conform to the non-discrimination provisions of Canon III.1.2 when considering consents to Episcopal elections, which states: "No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons."


EXPLANATION

At General Convention 2006, The House of Bishops, with the House of Deputies concurring, passed Resolution B033 which states, "Resolved, That the 75th General Convention receive and embrace The Windsor Report's invitation to engage in a process of healing and reconciliation; and be it further Resolved, That this Convention therefore call upon Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge
to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."

Resolution B033 was an attempt by The Episcopal Church to promote continuing dialogue around issues of human sexuality in response to resolutions passed at Lambeth Conferences 1978, 1988, and 1998, portions of the Windsor Report, and requests made by the Primates
of the Anglican Communion. The broad failure to engage in a process of reconciliation has rendered B033 ineffective in achieving its goal of helping the Church and wider Communion move beyond conflict and division toward mutual understanding and healing. However, B033 has resulted in the following: 1) it has been misinterpreted and misapplied as binding due to its ambiguity and lack of clarity when in fact Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction are not bound by any extra-canonical restraints; 2) it has limited the response of gay and lesbian members of the church to respond to any call to the episcopate they may have discerned; and 3) it has discouraged dioceses from raising up qualified gay and lesbian persons to be considered in Episcopal elections. Thus, the 76th General Convention is called upon to reaffirm and enact with renewed commitment the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church which govern our common life and prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation for any ministry, lay or ordained.