CLGS

A theology statement published in anticipation
of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church
Summer 2003

For a number of years a variety of organizations, groups and conferences have been working for the full inclusion of LGBT people in the life and ministry of the Episcopal Church in the United States. Integrity is the oldest among them, which was followed by both Oasis (an organization dedicated to educating congregations on how to be open and affirming of LGBT members) and Beyond Inclusion (which has been working on issues beyond mere tolerance and toward the full acceptance of the gifts for ministry offered by LGBT people).

These three organizations, together with the Witness magazine, other social justice organizations and individual clergy and lay leaders in the Episcopal Church have recently joined together to form Claiming the Blessing. This umbrella organization focuses its attention on promoting "wholeness in human relationships," abolishing oppression and healing "the rift between sexuality and spirituality" in our churches.

The theology statement of Claiming the Blessing, published in anticipation of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the summer of 2003, helped pave the way for the confirmation of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire—the first openly gay man to be so elected, confirmed and ordained. While the Convention stopped short of approving the development of liturgical rites for same-sex blessings, it did allow each individual diocese in the Episcopal Church to discern whether to do so on its own. Again, the theological work of Claiming the Blessing helped move the Convention in that direction.

We include that theology statement here, with permission, as one among a variety of theological resources for reflecting on what it means for communities of faith to "bless relationships" at all, and to help congregations and churches in their work of developing appropriate liturgical means for celebrating the commitments of same-sex couples.