The two legislative bodies of the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church – the House of Deputies, which includes priests and laypeople, and the House of Bishops – meet at the General Convention on Tuesday through June 21 in Columbus, Ohio.
Among the things to watch:
A new leader: The church will elect a new presiding bishop to replace Bishop Frank T. Griswold, who ends a nine-year term and who – along with the majority of U.S. bishops – consented to Gene Robinson’s election as the first openly gay bishop in church history.
Gay bishops: A resolution on the election of bishops urges “very considerable caution” in the nomination and election of bishops “whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion.”
This angers conservatives who believe anything short of a ban on gay bishops demonstrates the U.S. church has failed to heed the lessons that have strained relations internationally.
Public rites blessing gay couples: A resolution calls for “not proceeding to authorize public rites” until the wider communion reaches “some broader consensus.” Bishops who have already authorized such ceremonies are urged to “heed the invitation to express regret.”
This angers liberals who believe legislation adopted in 2003 allowed for the development of such rites.
