A Monday Morning Update

A quiet Monday morning for me, as I hit the gym, had a bowl of cheerios in my room, went down to the Convention Center at 7:30 a.m. and changed status in the deputation with our first Clergy Alternate, Lou Hays--and then rolled a suitcase down to the coin laundromat. One of those practicalities for a long meeting like this, and I think now I'm set for the rest of the week . . . . I'll go back to the floor this afternoon with, well, a refreshed spirit--and clean socks!

The buzz around is mostly still on the action of the House of Deputies yesterday to approve (by about a 2-1 margin) the amended Resolution D-025.

The Resolution enmeshed three separate though related themes. First, it announced or re-announced the desire of the Episcopal Church to remain fully within the life of the Anglican Communion, and committed us specifically to continue to pay our portion of the Communion financial asking. Second, it restated resolutions from earlier conventions that had specifically recognized the importance of gay and lesbian members, including those in committed, life-long partnerships, to the life and ministry of the Episcopal Church. Third, and finally, it restated the non-discrimination clause of the Title III ordination canons, specifically without reference to the language contained in Resolution B-033, which was approved by both Houses of General Convention in 2006.

(B-033 urged bishops and standing committees, notwithstanding canonical provisions about access to the process of discernment, to exercise "restraint" in the consent to the ordination of bishops whose "manner of life" would cause scandal in the wider Anglican family. It was thought that this Resolution became the rationale that allowed the Archbishop of Canterbury to invite our new Presiding Bishop to the Primates' Meeting and the Bishops of the Episcopal Church to the Lambeth Conference last summer.)

The silence of 2009 D-025 on the matter of 2006 B-033 will be and is already being interpreted variously. Some will point out, truthfully, that there was in D-025 at least no explicit repudiation of B-033--which means, in a sense, that bishops and standing committees still have in the universe of their consideration a reminder that at least several years ago the General Convention urged them to pause and consider with seriousness the impact of ordinations in the wider life of the Communion.

But more will say simply that D-025 was in fact an intentional decision of the House of Deputies to say that B-033 is now "in the past," and that "we've moved on."

At least in the blogosphere this morning, the latter seems the most prevalent view. At the Church of England General Synod, gathered simultaneously with General Convention this year, the Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his regret at the action, and there is a movement afoot to have the Church of England formally recognize the break-away Anglican Church in North America, led by our former Pittsburgh Bishop, now ACNA Archbishop Robert Duncan. Likewise Integrity, the Episcopalian Gay and Lesbian Advocacy Group, declares this morning, "B-033 is history."

Of course, much is still unknown at this early hour. Most importantly, it is still possible and some think even likely (I think it may be too close really to call) that the House of Bishops will fail to concur with D-025, which would mean that it would remain simply a statement by the House of Deputies but not the official position of General Convention or the Episcopal Church.

And additionally, Communion-minded leaders may in the season ahead, even if D-025 is approved by the Bishops, find ways to shift some emphasis away from the most extreme interpretation of the Resolution, and say that by not explicitly overturning B-033, it still has some moral force.

It might be that if that position were maintained, while at the same time the Episcopal Church were to engage with constructive energy in the continuing Windsor/Anglican Covenant process, at least some wind might be taken from the sails of those who seek to have the ACNA "replace" the Episcopal Church as the formally recognized expression of the Anglican Communion in North America. We'll just need to see how it all plays out over the next few years . . . .

Closer to home, of course, Our Pittsburgh deputation showed that it really is a new day in the culture of our diocesan life.

For so many years the "Pittsburgh vote" was a solid block. Now instead I think our very collegial and friendly little band of Pittsburghers seem to feel very relaxed and free and respectful with our diversity of perspective. In fact, neither of of our deputations, lay and clergy, were unanimous on D-025, the lay deputies voting 3-1 in the affirmative, the clergy deputies 3-1 in the negative.

[Correction, dated 7/22/09: I have been informed that the vote in our Clergy Order on the Concurrence with the House of Bishops on D-025 was 2-2, a "divided" vote which is counted as a "no" in calculating a majority. Our vote on the original Resolution was, indeed, 3-1 negative. These kinds of differences reflect different configurations of our Clergy Deputation, with Alternate Deputies sometimes sitting in for our regular Deputies. And to say again, 3-1 and 2-2 are both counted as "no" votes when determining passage of a resolution.]

And afterwards we gathered for refreshments and just a time of friendly conversation on the patio outside Lou Hays's room.

Well, about time now to head out to morning worship, lunch, and an afternoon of work on the floor . . . .

BruceR