Stances of Faiths on GLBT Issues: Episcopal Church
With an estimated 2.3 million members, the Episcopal Church has faced significant controversy over gay, lesbian and bisexual issues.
Unlike the Worldwide Anglican Communion, of which it is a part, the Episcopal Church does not condemn homosexuality. Instead, the denomination welcomes gays and lesbians as members, and some Episcopal dioceses permit the blessing of same-sex unions.
In 2003, the Episcopal Church ordained the first openly gay bishop in the United States (Bishop Robinson on Marriage). That ordination has been a major source of conflict within the denomination and the Worldwide Anglican Communion. Following threats of a possible schism, in April 2005, the church’s national governing body agreed not to participate in a top-level council in the international organization.
A national Episcopal governing body also announced in early 2005 that the denomination would stop ordaining bishops altogether and would refrain from recognizing same-sex unions for at least one year.
The denomination has, to date, been silent on transgender issues..
Openly Gay Clergy
The Episcopal Church ordained its first openly gay priest in 1989 and, in 1994, passed a resolution explicitly affirming that gay, lesbian and bisexual people could not be refused ordination in the Episcopal Church. It stated:
“No one shall be denied access to the selection process for ordination in this church because of race, color, ethnic origin, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise specified by these canons.”
In 2003, it made history — and no small amount of controversy — by electing the first openly gay bishop. The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, who lives with his partner, was consecrated as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. That ordination, however, led to a rebuke from the Worldwide Anglican Communion the following year.
The Anglican Communion recommended that the Episcopal Church refuse to approve the ordination of bishops in same-sex relationships in the future. Instead, the U.S. House of Bishops voted in March 2005 to suspend the ordination of any new bishops, gay or straight, for one year, until the 2006 General Convention.
The bishops also issued an official apology for having approved Robinson’s ordination, saying in their Covenant Statement:
“We express our own deep regret for the pain that others have experienced with respect to our actions at the General Convention of 2003 and we offer our sincere apology and repentance for having breached our bonds of affection by any failure to consult adequately with our Anglican partners before taking those actions.”
Same-Sex Unions
The church has had a policy of supporting and ministering to same-sex couples since 2000. In 2003, the General Convention, recognizing that some churches bless same-sex unions and some don’t, left that decision up to the individual dioceses, stating:
“In our understanding of homosexual persons, differences exist among us about how best to care pastorally for those who intend to live in monogamous, non-celibate unions; and what is, or should be, required, permitted, or prohibited by the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church concerning the blessing of the same. … We recognize that local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.”
In the Episcopal Church, while same-sex unions are official religious ceremonies, they are not equivalent to marriage, which the church still limits to opposite-sex couples. Although they can choose to bless same-sex unions, no Episcopal diocese in the United States currently allows its clergy to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.
In March 2005, a national governing body for the denomination, the House of Bishops, responded to a recommendation from the Worldwide Anglican Communion that they impose an official moratorium on the blessing of same-sex unions. In the Covenant Statement, the bishops acknowledged that there was no consensus within the issue but said they would not officially recognize same-sex unions for at least one year:
“It is important that we clarify that the Episcopal Church has not authorized any such liturgies, nor has General Convention requested the development of such rites. The Primates, in their communiqué ‘assure homosexual people that they are children of God, loved and valued by him and deserving of the best we can give of pastoral care and friendship.’ … Some in our church hold such ‘pastoral care’ to include the blessing of same sex relationships. Others hold that it does not. Nevertheless, we pledge not to authorize any public rites for the blessing of same sex unions, and we will not bless any such unions, at least until the General Convention of 2006.”
It is not yet clear what effect the bishops’ statement will have on the Episcopal dioceses that have already been blessing same-sex unions. Currently, at least six dioceses have written explicit policies that allow for them: Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Vermont and Washington. Three others (Massachusetts, Hawaii and Long Island, N.Y.) have also announced their intention to develop such policies. The Diocese of Vermont also became the first to develop an official liturgy for blessing same-sex union ceremonies in 2004.
The Diocese of Massachusetts, the only state in which marriage is legal for same-sex couples, announced in May 2004 that its priests were prohibited from officiating at same-sex marriage ceremonies. Although the diocese has voiced its support for marriage equality, its bishops decided that in order to follow the rules of the national Episcopal Church, Massachusetts priests would not be able to perform same-sex marriages. Some priests in Massachusetts have resisted that decision.
Opposition to Discrimination
The church has prohibited discrimination against gays and lesbians since 1976. In 1985, the General Convention, the church’s national governing body, spoke out against hate crimes based on sexual orientation and encouraged federal officials to take action against such violence. The same year, the church publicly denounced the then-popular belief that AIDS was “the punishment of God upon homosexual persons.”
In 1997, the General Convention passed a resolution apologizing for past “sins” against gay and lesbian people. It stated:
“This 72nd General Convention apologizes on behalf of the Episcopal Church to its members who are gay or lesbian and to lesbians and gay men outside the Church for years of rejection and maltreatment by the Church. … This Church repents of its sins committed against lesbian and gay people — physical, psychological and spiritual — through covert and overt action and inaction. We seek amendment of our life together and we ask for God’s help in sharing the Good News with all people.”
Conflict within the Church. Critics of Robinson’s ordination argued that the church violated Anglican Communion rules that forbid the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians, as well as the blessing of same-sex unions, and predicted that a schism would result.
In fact, in October 2004, the Lambeth Commission of the Anglican Communion released a report that rebuked the Episcopal Church for Robinson’s ordination and for permitting the blessing of same-sex unions. Entitled the Windsor Report, it stated:
“The Commission regrets that without attaching sufficient importance to the interests of the wider Communion:
- “The Episcopal Church (USA) proceeded with the consecration of Gene Robinson
- “The 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA) declared that ‘local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.’”
The report asked the Episcopal Church to issue an “expression of regret” that its actions had caused division within the Anglican Communion and called for a halt on both blessing same-sex unions and ordaining openly gay clergy members “until some new consensus in the Anglican Communion emerges.” It did not call for Robinson’s resignation or expel the Episcopal Church from the Anglican Communion, but it did note, “There remains a very real danger that we will not choose to walk together.”
In February 2005, the church may have moved closer to a schism when leaders of the Anglican Communion requested that both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada withdraw their representatives from one of the international communion’s governing bodies, the Anglican Consultative Council, until 2008. That year, the withdrawal will be reviewed at the 10-yearly meeting of Anglican bishops. The following April, the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council agreed not to send official delegates the upcoming meeting of the Anglican Consultive Council, but said they would still send representatives as observers.
In response to the request from the international organization, the Episcopal House of Bishops issued a statement in March 2005 stating that they would not approve the ordination of any new bishops, gay or straight, for at least a year, and that they would not publicly recognize same-sex unions.
Resources for GLBT Episcopalians
- Integrity is a nonprofit social and advocacy group for GLBT Episcopalians and straight allies, with chapters around the nation.
- Beyond Inclusion offers resources on same-sex commitment ceremonies within the Episcopal Church.
- Claiming the Blessing is a coalition of pro-equality Episcopal organizations that has a goal of “promoting wholeness in human relationships, abolishing prejudice and oppression, and healing the rift between sexuality and spirituality in the Church.”
- The Witness magazine is a progressive, unofficial publication for members of the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion that supports equal rights for GLB Episcopalians.
Headquarters Location
If you would like to communicate with the Episcopal Church, here is their mailing address:
Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Ave.
New York, NY 10017
