What Comes Next?
By Ralph Spence - January 2004
Before anyone claims victory or leaves the Episcopal Church, it is important to remember that our traditional teaching that sexual activity is only appropriate within the marriage of husband and wife, has not been repudiated. At this point, General Convention has simply recognized exceptions to our traditional teaching that are based on pastoral decisions made at the local or diocesan level. The whole Church has not been committed to blessing same-sex relationships and no consensus has been reached regarding the theological reasoning, how best to protect vulnerable partners in these relationships or guidance in areas of sexuality.
While the marriage of a husband and wife is still identified as the only appropriate place for sexual activity, there seem to be conditions for providing a pastoral response to individuals for whom marriage is not possible. This response should not deny the preference for heterosexual relationships expressed in scripture and tradition or undermine the traditional teaching of the Church. Gender should never be considered irrelevant in the Church’s teaching about choosing a life partner.
If we are truly a community that values unity and diversity, efforts must be made to seek a theological rationale for blessing same-sex relationships that welcomes all. Both the position that scripture is silent on committed same-sex relationships or opposed to them because of cultural bias, exclude supporters of our traditional teaching. There is no consensus on these positions and they also undermine the application of scripture and tradition to future decisions of the Church. The only theological reasoning that is close to being inclusive is the position that the blessing of same-sex relationships is offered for pastoral reasons as an exception to scripture.
If we find consensus in this theological rationale, some local faith communities could offer blessings for same-sex relationships while others upheld the traditional teaching of the Church. In order to protect the vulnerable and provide guidance, the conditions under which this exception could be offered must be clearly defined. For protection in the event of separation, the Church must require legal and financial commitments between partners that are similar to the obligations in marriage under civil law. The Church should also provide pastoral advice for individuals who may be confused with their sexual identity or struggling with sexual desires.
The significance of decisions in the Episcopal Church today resides in the lessons that we can share with the rest of the world on these matters. Few will follow our example if pastoral responsibilities are neglected or unity is only found through the exclusion of loyal members. We must make an effort to identify common ground, avoid ambiguity in future decisions and take steps to respond to concerns. In order to bring focus to the issues that should be addressed, there is a draft resolution for GC 2006 that can be found at the Internet address provided below. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
Ralph Spence
