Reports to the 78 The Episcopal Church Reports to the 78th General Convention otherwise known as th General Convention: Supplemental Materials • 2015 The Blue Book: Supplemental Materials Reports of the Committees, Commissions, Agencies, and Boards to The General Convention of The Episcopal Church Salt Lake City, in the State and Diocese of Utah June 25-July 3, 2015 The Episcopal Church Reports to the 78th General Convention otherwise known as The Blue Book: Supplemental Materials Reports of the Committees, Commissions, Agencies, and Boards to The General Convention of The Episcopal Church Salt Lake City, in the State and Diocese of Utah June 25-July 3, 2015 © 2015 The General Convention Supplemental Materials: Contents Appendices of the report of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music • Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing (revised and expanded).................................................5 • Revised Collects for Commemorations......................155 • A Great Cloud of Witnesses........................................175 • Weekday Eucharistic Propers 2015.............................221 • Liturgical Materials Honoring God in Creation..........232 Liturgical Resources 1 “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing” Resources for The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant in a Same-Sex Relationship Revised and Expanded Edition 5 SUPPLEMENTAL LITURGY MATERIALS Table of Contents I. Introduction to the Revised and Expanded Edition..............................................................8 II. Introduction to the First Edition (2012).................................................................................11 III. Faith, Hope, and Love: Theological Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships.........................................................................................17 Preface Overview: Theological Reflection on Same-Sex Relationships 1. The Church’s Call: A Focus on Mission 2. The Church’s Joy: A Theology of Blessing 3. The Church’s Life: Covenantal Relationship 4. The Church’s Challenge: Christian Unity and Biblical Interpretation Responses to “Faith, Hope, and Love” a. Thomas E. Breidenthal b. John E. Goldingay c. Deirdre Good d. Dora Rudo Mbuwayesango e. George R. Sumner f. Fredrica Harris Thompsett IV. Hearing, Seeing, and Declaring New Things:.........................................................................59 Pastoral Resources for Preparing Couples for a Liturgy of Blessing or Marriage Overview: Pastoral Care for Gender and Sexual Minority Couples 1. Available Resources: Materials for Pastoral Preparation 2. Particular Issues Affecting Gender and Sexual Minority Couples 3. Presenters 4. Outline of Pre-Blessing/Marriage Preparation for Gender and Sexual Minority Couples Handouts......................................................................................................................................73 1. Theological Reflection on Covenantal Relationship: Spiritual Practice for Gender and Sexual Minority Couples 2. Declaration of Intention for Lifelong Covenant 3. About Presenters—For the Couple 4. Information for Presenters 5. Model Congregational Guidelines V. Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships.....................................................79 1. The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant (revised) 2. The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage 3. The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage (2) a. The Blessing of a Civil Marriage b. An Order for Marriage 4. The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony 6 REPORTS TO THE 78TH GENERAL CONVENTION VI. Discussion Guide to “I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing”:.........................................112 Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships (revised and expanded edition) Introduction to the Discussion Guide 1. Study Area One: History 2. Study Area Two: Theology and the Bible 3. Study Area Three: Liturgy 4. Study Area Four: Civil and Canon Law 5. Study Area Five: Mission Handouts....................................................................................................................................126 A. Covenant for Discussion B. Understanding the History C. An Introduction to General Convention D. Relationships and Blessing: Reflection Questions E. Theological Reflection on Same-Sex Relationships: A Summary of “Faith, Hope, and Love” F. Principles for Evaluating Liturgical Materials VII. Appendices..................................................................................................................................133 1. A History of the Marriage Canon 2. A Review of General Convention Legislation 3. Consultation on Same-Sex Marriage: Executive Summary of Evaluations 4. Glossary of Legal and Canonical Terms 7 SUPPLEMENTAL LITURGY MATERIALS I. Introduction to the Revised and Expanded Edition In 2012, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church commended “Liturgical Resources 1: I Will Bless You, and You Will Be a Blessing” for study and use throughout The Episcopal Church. In the two years since then, the materials have been widely used in a number of dioceses, and the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) has invited responses through several avenues. This new volume is the result of this process. Responses to Liturgical Resources 1 In January 2013, the SCLM asked bishops of The Episcopal Church to report whether they had authorized the liturgy “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant,” and if so, whether they had authorized any modifications to meet the needs of members of The Episcopal Church. The SCLM received responses from half (55) of the dioceses, and of these, 38 had authorized use of the resource. In many dioceses in jurisdictions where civil marriage is legal for same-sex couples, the bishop authorized revisions of the liturgy to allow clergy to officiate at a civil marriage of a same-sex couple. In fall 2013, almost 1,000 people accessed an online survey distributed with the assistance of diocesan contact people and through social media. Responses were overwhelmingly positive to all sections of Liturgical Resources 1. However, a number of respondents expressed frustration or confusion that the liturgy appeared to be a “separate but equal” rite, which therefore was not equivalent to marriage. The Commission heard similar comments at an international, ecumenical, indaba-style conversation on same- sex marriage that it hosted at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kansas City, Missouri, June 3-5 2014. The SCLM had invited participation from every diocese of The Episcopal Church and from every province of the Anglican Communion where civil marriage is legal for same-sex couples, and from ecumenical partner churches in the United States. Participants at the consultation included 57 people representing 24 dioceses of The Episcopal Church, six other churches of the Anglican Communion, and five ecumenical partners, along with the President of the House of Deputies, the Presiding Bishop, and the Secretary of General Convention. Two dioceses of The Episcopal Church and two provinces of the Anglican Communion declined to send representatives. While none of the participants in the consultation was opposed to same-sex marriage, the conversation enabled the Commission to understand more deeply the issues facing clergy and same-sex couples in contexts where civil marriage is legal. To evaluate the Kansas City consultation, the SCLM asked The Rev. Dr. Paula Nesbitt, a sociologist who has worked extensively in evaluation of the continuing indaba process in the Anglican Communion, to interview a selected cross-section of participants. We have included her executive summary of her report as an appendix to this volume. Faith, Hope, and Love: Theological Resources In Resolution A049, the 2012 General Convention directed the SCLM to develop the theological resource “with specific attention to further engagement with scripture and the relevant categories and sources of systematic theology (e.g., creation, sin, grace, salvation, redemption, human nature).” The Commission invited responses from theologians representing different disciplines (Scripture, ethics, church history, systematic theology, missiology) and diverse theological perspectives. These essays are included in this revised and expanded edition; they represent the viewpoint of the individual authors rather than the consensus of the SCLM. 8 REPORTS TO THE 78TH GENERAL CONVENTION The Church’s Canon Law and Laws of the States Liturgical Resources 1 included a study of the complexities of civil and canon law regarding marriage and civil unions. It offered a number of scenarios, taking into account differences in both civil law and diocesan policy. Since 2012, dramatic changes in civil law in the United States have reshaped the context. When Liturgical Resources 1 was first published as part of the 2012 Blue Book Report to the 77th General Convention, seven states and the District of Columbia allowed same-sex civil marriage. As of November 15, 2014, 33 states plus the District of Columbia now have same-sex marriage. Five states have same-sex marriage bans that have been overturned and where appeals are in process. The other states remain in some form of limbo awaiting the outcome of appellate rulings or lawsuits. It is expected that the United States Supreme Court will hear one of the appeals on their 2014–2015 docket calendar. As of late 2014, 64 percent of Americans live in states where same-sex couples may marry. According to the Office for Congregational