Update on General Convention Resolutions - Same-Gender Marriage
By The Rt. Rev. Edward J. Konieczny
July 15, 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
As you know, General Convention passed two resolutions that affect same gender marriage in The Episcopal Church, Resolution A054 and Resolution A036.
Resolution A054 allowed for the continuation and expansion of the liturgy approved for same gender blessings at the 2012 General Convention, "I Will Bless You and You Will Be a Blessing"; it approved additional liturgies for "trial use" for same gender marriage; and it allowed for the provision for clergy to use the current rite of marriage found in the Book of Common Prayer for same gender marriage.
Resolution A036 called for altering the language of the current Canon on marriage. The Canon language defined marriage as, "union of a man and a woman." This resolution called for changing the language of the Canon to gender-neutral language; replacing "a man and a woman" with "both parties".
As I stated in my previous communication, our current diocesan policies remain in effect until the first Sunday of Advent 2015. These policies can be found below on this Same Gender Blessing Materials page of the diocesan website.
I am reviewing the Canons, Resolutions, and Liturgies that resulted from the actions taken at General Convention. Similar to the process I conducted after the 2012 General Convention, I am forming a small committee to serve in an advisory role to discern how we will move forward in the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. I anticipate this work will be done prior to the first Sunday of Advent 2015. Please keep this committee, our Diocese, and the Church in your prayers as we work through this process.
Faithfully,
+Bishop Ed