August 7, 2003 Dear Friends,The 74th General Convention has one more day, Friday, August 8, when final resolutions on a number of matters will be considered. The dominating issue, at least as far as media attention is concerned, was the place of gay men and lesbians in the life of the church. The Convention consented to the consecration of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire. Those of us who voted for consent (including Virginia’s clergy and lay deputations, each by a 3-1 vote, and including me) placed a high priority on the importance of diocesan autonomy in the choice of its bishop. That does not mean we agree on issues of sexuality. The Diocese of Virginia continues to affirm its policy that “the normative context for sexual intimacy is lifelong, heterosexual, monogamous marriage.” We try to hold together that traditional teaching with a welcome to all people, including our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. The House of Bishops adopted a resolution recognizing our differences in this area. I was thankful for the positive response I received when I introduced an amendment that removed an explicit direction for the national church to develop rites for blessing same-gender unions. My amendment was adopted by the Bishops, with many recognizing the need for the Episcopal Church to exercise restraint. I recognize the conflicting responses of our people to the actions of Convention. Some are saddened and angry, both those who wanted the Convention to go further in the direction of recognizing gay and lesbian people in our church and those who believe we went too far. I believe one of the graces of this Convention is the way we dealt with each other. The secular media noticed that. The Dallas Morning News commented editorially on Aug. 7: “…We have been struck by the calm and deliberative process the Episcopalians followed in reaching their conclusion. … Watching these Episcopalians of all beliefs reason their way through their disagreement on this issue could serve as a guidepost for the larger society. … Perhaps their thoughtfulness and mutual respect for one another on this issue will have a positive impact on how all of us Americans carry on our larger societal debates. At least we hope so.” I pray earnestly that the people of the Diocese of Virginia might continue to affirm our loving unity, even as we express our disagreements. The Episcopal Church is a large tent, and as such, finds its unity in the love of Christ and not in our limited grasp of his truth that transcends any individual. The lasting effects of this Convention may well be matters that received little attention from the media. The Church is committed to youth, to renewal of our congregations, to growth, and to the witness of the church to justice and peace. These emphases may well renew the church at every level. In September, dates and places to be announced, we will have four meetings around the Diocese where people can meet and pray with our bishops, deputies and others who were in Minneapolis, to weigh the effects of the Convention on our congregations and our Diocese. Give thanks for our tolerant expression of difference and for the love of Christ that bridges all gaps and holds us together. Faithfully,
The Rt. Rev. Peter
James Lee |
