Integrity/Connecticut’s
Sponsoring Parish Trinity Episcopal Church
120 Sigourney Street
Hartford, CT, 06105
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Resolutions developed
for consideration by
The Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention
A Joint Committee of the Greater Hartford and Waterbury Integrity Chapters of Connecticut produced the following two Resolutions which will be submitted to Connecticut's Delegates to The Episcopal Church's 76th General Convention.
The purpose of the resolutions is to promote the full inclusion of LGBT persons in all aspects of the Episcopal Church The text of the two resolutions is presented below:
TITLE: Baptized Entitled to all Sacraments
Resolved, the House of __________concurring. That the 76th General Convention acknowledges and confirms that all baptized members of The Episcopal Church are entitled to and granted complete and unrestricted access to the benefits of all the sacraments and sacramental rites of The Episcopal Church.
Explanation:
The purpose of this resolution is to remove all barriers to those who are baptized from participating fully in all the sacraments and sacramental rites of the Episcopal Church. This resolution affirms the grace of Baptism by which “God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God”. Adoption of this resolution is intended to remove all restrictions against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members of the Church in becoming deacons, priests, bishops or lay employees of The Episcopal Church. It is also intended that this resolution will endorse the blessing of marriage, civil unions and the blessings of LGBT committed relationships, where such relationships are not recognized by civil law.
TITLE: Consecrate Qualified Candidates -
Resolved, the House of __________concurring. That the 76th General Convention promote healing and reconciliation while giving equal consideration to honoring the dignity of every human being and preserving human rights:
And be it further
Resolved, That this Convention call upon diocese, Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction prayerfully to seek out, elect and consecrate candidates to the episcopate who are the best available candidates for the life, health and faith of our church.
Explanation:
Our baptismal covenant calls upon us to ‘strive for justice and peace among all people” and to “respect the dignity of every human being”. This resolution is intended to promote the full inclusion of all baptized persons in all sacraments.
The Joint Committee also reviewed a number of resolutions submitted by other organizations and recommended the following:
The Joint Committee of Integrity Connecticut recommends that our delegate(s) consider sponsoring or endorsement of the following Resolution:
Diocese of Rochester
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That this 76th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to prepare, for consideration by the 77th General Convention, additional gender-neutral language for The Book of Common Prayer pastoral offices titled "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage," "The Blessing of a Civil Marriage," and "An Order of Marriage" (pages 422 through 438). These adapted liturgies could be made available for use until such time as they might be considered for incorporation into a future Book of Common Prayer.
EXPLANATION
The rites and rubrics in The Book of Common Prayer for the pastoral offices titled "The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage," "The Blessing of a Civil Marriage," and "An Order of Marriage" (pages 422 through 438) only allow for marriage between a man and a woman. As of September 2008, two states (California and Massachusetts) allow civil marriages between two adults of the same gender. Eight territories and states (the District of Columbia Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington) allow civil unions or domestic partnerships between two adults of the same gender. The trend toward marriage equality or equivalency for same-gender couples is likely to continue.
This resolution would help us to be a more inclusive church. The Episcopal Church would officially recognize that presenting all couples with the opportunity to enter into a covenant with each other and before God, including all the rights and responsibilities that implies, would not only strengthen their families but all families.
The Joint Committee of Integrity Connecticut urges our Delegation to co-sponsor the following:
Byron Rushing (MA), Sarah Lawton (CA), and possibly Dee Tavolaro (RI) are co-sponsoring it, and we're tying to gather as many deputies, and/or whole deputations, behind it as possible. If there is anyone in the CT deputation who would be willing to join this, that would be awesome, and I'll happily connect them with Byron, Sarah and Dee-- just have CT folks shoot me an email?
Resolution in Support of Transgender Civil Rights
RESOLVED that this ________th General Convention of the Episcopal Church supports the enactment of laws at the local, state and federal level that a) prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or the expression of one’s gender identity, and b) treat physical violence inflicted on the basis of a victim’s gender identity or expression as a hate crime;
RESOLVED that the Secretary of Convention convey this resolution to the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, to the Majority and Minority Leaders in the U.S. Senate, to the Chair of the National Governors Association, and to the President of the U. S. Conference of Mayors.
The Joint Committee of Integrity Connecticut recommends that our delegate(s) consider sponsoring or endorsement of the following Resolution:
Support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).
RESOLVED: The House of _______ concurring, that the Seventy-Sixth General Convention of the Episcopal Church support the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) by both houses of Congress and its signing into law by the President of the United States, and be it further
RESOLVED: That sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression be included as classes protected by ENDA.
The Joint Committee of Integrity Connecticut recommends that our delegate(s) consider sponsoring or endorsement of the following Resolution:
RESOLVED: The House of ______ concurring, that Canon III.1.3 is hereby amended to read as follows: “The provisions of these canons for the admission of candidates for Ordination to the three Orders: Bishops, Priests and Deacons shall be equally applicable to all persons regardless of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, age, gender identity, or gender expression, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination or election is hereby established."
Additional information concerning resolutions drafted by other LGBT groups can be viewed by clicking on the following link: