Aug 15, 2003  |  By: LAUREL FAUST  | COMMENTS     

As the Episcopal Church grappled with the controversial and divisive issues of confirming an openly gay bishop and authorizing a national liturgy for same-sex blessings last week, one local bishop played a key role in the proceedings.

Rev. Peter James Lee, bishop of Virginia, introduced a compromise measure that was adopted by the church’s governing bodies at the General Convention in Minneapolis affirming that same-sex blessing ceremonies are “an acceptable practice” but stopping short of creating a national liturgy for such unions.

The House of Bishops conducted a voice vote on the measure on Aug. 6. The House of Deputies held a vote the following day. Fifty-eight lay deputies, and 62 clergy deputies out of 108 voted for the amended resolution that stated: “Local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.”

“I introduced an amendment that removed an explicit direction for the national church to develop rites for blessing same-gender unions,” Bishop Lee wrote in a pastoral letter that was posted on the diocese Web site. “My amendment was adopted by the bishops, with many recognizing the need for the Episcopal Church to exercise restraint.”

At the same convention, the church on Aug. 5 confirmed gay Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire amid controversy and eleventh-hour charges of inappropriate conduct of which he was cleared.

Bishop Lee voted in favor of the confirmation.

“I am convinced of the need to respect the Diocese of New Hampshire’s decision, in spite of my personal reservations and our current diocesan policy, which would not permit Canon Robinson to be ordained in Virginia.”

Same-sex blessings now recognized
Nancy Jenkins, press secretary for the Virginia Diocese, said she isn’t aware of any same-sex blessings that have taken place in the diocese. The Virginia Diocese comprises 188 congregations in the northern third of the state of Virginia, including the entire D.C. metro region. The diocese has the largest number of baptized members in the country.

“For gays and lesbians in Virginia, it’s very much the status quo,” said Jo Belser, director of communications for Integrity Virginia, a gay rights group within the church. “But we do see hope, because we are one step closer to a church-wide blessing of same-gender relations.”

Bishop trong>Peter James Lee

Belser sees another sign of hope. She said that in previous decisions relating to the ordination of women, the Virginia Diocese aligned itself with the South. On the Robinson confirmation and the same-sex blessing vote, the Virginia Diocese “broke with the tradition of siding with many other dioceses of the deep South,” Belser said.

Many congregations in Maryland and D.C. have already been performing same-sex blessings with the approval of their individual diocese. The General Convention decision marks the first time these blessings have received national recognition of the church.

“The significance is that in most dioceses where this has been happening, it’s been a kind of ‘Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell,’” Rev. Michael Hopkins of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale and the president of Integrity USA said. “What this resolution does is to allow for the diocese to do

this openly.”

Hopkins said that there are many bishops and clergy who have wanted to perform the blessings, but haven’t felt able until the national church gave some kind of approval.

“This resolution gives that approval,” he said.

However, many Americans may not. Public opinion polls show that many Americans are uncomfortable with the idea of legalizing same-sex marriages.

A Washington Post poll this week found that nearly half (47 percent) of regular-church-attending Americans would leave their places of worship if their ministers blessed same-sex couples. The same poll also found that American support for civil unions is falling, with only 37 percent supporting gay couples receiving many of the same benefits married couples enjoy. That number had been above 50 percent in a Gallup survey last spring.

Stephanie Nagley is former associate rector of St. Mark’s Church on Capitol Hill. She estimated that 5 to 8 percent of the church’s followers are gay or lesbian. She said the church has performed five holy unions of same-sex couples in the past two years.

“I think the church should be right up front in celebrating, supporting and participating with people who desire to live their lives in loving unions,” Nagley said. “My great hope is that people who desire a spiritual home will feel like they’re invited and included.” Nagley ...