The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops voted late Monday to allow gay and lesbian bishops in the church, essentially lifting a de facto ban in place since 2006. The House of Bishops approved the resolution, called D025 (text here), by a two-to-one margin just one day after a similiar resolution garnered the votes of two-thirds of the 800 delegates in the the House of Deputies. In the Episcopal Church’s bi-cameral system, resolutions need approval by majorities in both houses.
Monday’s move takes the Episcopal Church one step closer to lifting the ban. The bishops made amendments to the resolution that will require approval by the House of Deputies, but none of the changes are thought to be deal-breakers. The House of Deputies could take up the amended resolution as soon as Tuesday.
The Rev. Susan Russell, president of the Episcopal pro-gay group Integrity USA, said: “”there is no question that today’s vote in the House of Bishops was an historic move forward and a great day for all who support the full inclusion of all the baptized in the Body of Christ….The truth is we are a church committed to mission – we are a church committed to the full inclusion of all the baptized in that mission – and we are a church committed to creating as broad a place to stand as possible for ALL who wish to be part of this great adventure of being disciples of Jesus.”
I haven’t found any react yet from conservative Episcopalians yet. When I do, I’ll post it.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams reacted negatively earlier on Monday to the House of Deputies approving the resolution, saying “I regret the fact that there is no will to observe the moratorium (on gay bishops) in such a significant part of the Church in North America.”
The Episcopal Cafe has an unofficial roll call of the votes here. Here’s the part of the text of the resolution: “Resolved, That the 76th General Convention recognize that gay and lesbian persons who are part of such relationships have responded to God’s call and have exercised various ministries in and on behalf of God’s One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and are currently doing so in our midst; and be it further
Resolved, That the 76th General Convention affirm that God has called and may call such individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church,; and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people which call is testednone through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church…”
