FINAL VERSION
Resolution:C041
Title:Amend Canon I.18
Topic:Canons
Committee:13 - Prayer Book, Liturgy and Church Music
House of Initial Action:Bishops
Proposer:Diocese of Massachusetts

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That Canon I.18.2 is hereby amended to read as follows

Sec. 2 (b) That both parties understand that Holy Matrimony is a physical and spiritual union of a man and a woman two adults, entered into within the community of faith, by mutual consent of heart, mind, and will, and with intent that it be lifelong; and be it further

Resolved, That Canon I.18.3 is hereby amended to read as follows

Sec. 3 (e) "We, A.B. and C.D., desiring to receive the blessing of Holy Matrimony in the Church, do solemnly declare that we hold marriage to be a lifelong union of husband and wife two adults as it is set forth in the Book of Common Prayer.

(f) "We believe that the union of husband and wife two adults, 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.


EXPLANATION

The changes in this resolution would apply only in jurisdictions where same sex couples can legally marry under civil law, only Massachusetts and Connecticut at time of submission. For example, Massachusetts Episcopalians are currently permitted by civil law to enter into same-sex civil marriages, but Bishop M. Thomas Shaw SSJE has declined to allow clergy to solemnize the weddings of such couples or to use the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage or the Blessing of a Civil Marriage as set out in the Book of Common Prayer, until such use is authorized by General Convention. This change gives civilly married same-sex couples the same access to the church's marriage rites as heterosexual couples, and ends this disturbing exclusion of same-sex couples from the church's sacramental life.