B012 Marriage Rites for the Whole Church
As the Task Force on the Study of Marriage notes (Resolution 2018-A085): The 2012 General Convention authorized liturgical resources for “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2012-A049), and three (3) years later the 2015 General Convention authorized the trial use of two (2) liturgies for marriage, available for use by all couples (“The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2”), as well as the continued use of “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2015-A054). ...In a survey of U.S. dioceses in 2017, the Task Force on the Study of Marriage learned that ninety-three (93) Bishops with jurisdiction authorized the trial use of the marriage liturgies. Seventy-three (73) of those bishops authorized their use with no conditions. Twenty (20) bishops authorized their use with some conditions. Of those twenty (20), twelve (12) required Vestry approvals, two (2) required Vestry approval and permission of the Bishop, one (1) required approval of the Bishop, two (2) required a parish discernment process and three (3) authorized only one of the available rites. Eight (8) bishops did not allow the trial use of the marriage liturgies. Their survey did not include the nine (9) non-U.S. jurisdictions: Haiti, Taiwan, Europe, Central Ecuador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Litoral Ecuador, and Venezuela, in most of which same-sex marriage is not presently provided for by civil law. This resolution re-authorizes the two (2) trial use liturgies for marriage authorized in 2015, but with modified terms and conditions, as provided for by Canon II.3.6(a). Resolution 2015-A054 provided that all bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority “will make provision” for all couples to have access to these liturgies, while also providing that trial use of these liturgies in a diocese is only available under the direction of and with the permission of the diocesan bishop. By contrast, this resolution proposes that access to these trial use liturgies now be provided for in all dioceses, without requiring the permission of the diocesan bishop. Nevertheless, it preserves the role of the bishop in providing direction for the use of these trial liturgies, allowing the twenty (20) bishops who presently authorize their use with some conditions to continue doing so. Moreover, it preserves the canonical “authority and responsibility” of the rector or priest-in-charge for the conduct of worship (Canon III.9.6) in the congregation. For the eight (8) dioceses where same-sex marriage is permitted by civil law, but whose bishops and/or diocesan canons do not allow trial use, this resolution specifies that bishops shall delegate episcopal pastoral oversight (DEPO) of a congregation requesting access to these rites to another bishop of this Church who shall provide access. As in Resolution 2015-A054, further resolved clauses (first proposed by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage) specify that bishops provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of the Church and that they lead the Church in engaging with these materials. The provisions acknowledging that any member of the clergy may decline to solemnize or bless a marriage (Canon I.18.7) and that the provisions regarding marriage after divorce (Canon I.19.3) apply to the use of the trial liturgies were also in the 2015 Resolution, along with an assurance that no one in the Church, lay person, bishop, priest, or deacon, shall suffer any coercion or penalty because of theological support for or opposition to the blessing or marriage of same-sex couples. This resolution also authorizes two (2) new trial use rites, as proposed by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage: “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2,” and “An Order for Marriage 2.” As such, it provides access to versions of these rites in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer suitable for all couples. As the trial use authorization of “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2015-A054) has not expired, this resolution proposes no change to its present status. The third and fourth resolved clauses specify that there is no time limit placed upon the period of authorized trial use, and provide for publishing and making this material available to the Church. The eighth resolved clause refers ongoing study of these trial use rites to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, should it be judged advisable to recommend modifications during the ongoing Trial Use period. In 2015, Resolution A054 did not propose the trial use liturgies it authorized as a first reading for amendment of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This resolution declines to do so as well, proposing instead the creation of a Task Force in the spirit of the 2015 “Communion Across Difference” statement of the House of Bishops. Rather than move toward the potential amendment of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by 2021, this proposal seeks instead to find a lasting way forward for all Episcopalians in one Church.
Explanation
As the Task Force on the Study of Marriage notes (Resolution 2018-A085): The 2012 General Convention authorized liturgical resources for “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2012-A049), and three (3) years later the 2015 General Convention authorized the trial use of two (2) liturgies for marriage, available for use by all couples (“The Witnessing and Blessing of a Marriage” and “The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage 2”), as well as the continued use of “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2015-A054). ...In a survey of U.S. dioceses in 2017, the Task Force on the Study of Marriage learned that ninety-three (93) Bishops with jurisdiction authorized the trial use of the marriage liturgies. Seventy-three (73) of those bishops authorized their use with no conditions. Twenty (20) bishops authorized their use with some conditions. Of those twenty (20), twelve (12) required Vestry approvals, two (2) required Vestry approval and permission of the Bishop, one (1) required approval of the Bishop, two (2) required a parish discernment process and three (3) authorized only one of the available rites. Eight (8) bishops did not allow the trial use of the marriage liturgies. Their survey did not include the nine (9) non-U.S. jurisdictions: Haiti, Taiwan, Europe, Central Ecuador, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Litoral Ecuador, and Venezuela, in most of which same-sex marriage is not presently provided for by civil law. This resolution re-authorizes the two (2) trial use liturgies for marriage authorized in 2015, but with modified terms and conditions, as provided for by Canon II.3.6(a). Resolution 2015-A054 provided that all bishops exercising ecclesiastical authority “will make provision” for all couples to have access to these liturgies, while also providing that trial use of these liturgies in a diocese is only available under the direction of and with the permission of the diocesan bishop. By contrast, this resolution proposes that access to these trial use liturgies now be provided for in all dioceses, without requiring the permission of the diocesan bishop. Nevertheless, it preserves the role of the bishop in providing direction for the use of these trial liturgies, allowing the twenty (20) bishops who presently authorize their use with some conditions to continue doing so. Moreover, it preserves the canonical “authority and responsibility” of the rector or priest-in-charge for the conduct of worship (Canon III.9.6) in the congregation. For the eight (8) dioceses where same-sex marriage is permitted by civil law, but whose bishops and/or diocesan canons do not allow trial use, this resolution specifies that bishops shall delegate episcopal pastoral oversight (DEPO) of a congregation requesting access to these rites to another bishop of this Church who shall provide access. As in Resolution 2015-A054, further resolved clauses (first proposed by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage) specify that bishops provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of the Church and that they lead the Church in engaging with these materials. The provisions acknowledging that any member of the clergy may decline to solemnize or bless a marriage (Canon I.18.7) and that the provisions regarding marriage after divorce (Canon I.19.3) apply to the use of the trial liturgies were also in the 2015 Resolution, along with an assurance that no one in the Church, lay person, bishop, priest, or deacon, shall suffer any coercion or penalty because of theological support for or opposition to the blessing or marriage of same-sex couples. This resolution also authorizes two (2) new trial use rites, as proposed by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage: “The Blessing of a Civil Marriage 2,” and “An Order for Marriage 2.” As such, it provides access to versions of these rites in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer suitable for all couples. As the trial use authorization of “The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant” (Resolution 2015-A054) has not expired, this resolution proposes no change to its present status. The third and fourth resolved clauses specify that there is no time limit placed upon the period of authorized trial use, and provide for publishing and making this material available to the Church. The eighth resolved clause refers ongoing study of these trial use rites to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, should it be judged advisable to recommend modifications during the ongoing Trial Use period. In 2015, Resolution A054 did not propose the trial use liturgies it authorized as a first reading for amendment of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. This resolution declines to do so as well, proposing instead the creation of a Task Force in the spirit of the 2015 “Communion Across Difference” statement of the House of Bishops. Rather than move toward the potential amendment of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer by 2021, this proposal seeks instead to find a lasting way forward for all Episcopalians in one Church.