ORIGINAL TEXT
Resolution:C061
Title:Amend Title III.1.2
Topic:Canons
Committee:08 - World Mission
House of Initial Action:Deputies
Proposer:Diocese of Massachusetts

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church is hereby amended to read as follows: 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, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.


EXPLANATION

Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church 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. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established." This resolution would revise this canon by adding "gender identity and expression" to this list of protected categories of access, but not of right.

This revision is based upon our increased understanding and practice to respect the human dignity of transgender people-- transsexuals, and others who differ from majority societal gender norms. Gender identity, in and of itself, should not be a basis for exclusion from consideration for the participation in the ministries of the Church.