The Official Diocese of Mississippi Release on Bishop Gray’s Change in Policy

Posted by Kendall Harmon

In his address, Gray also announced a discernment process which congregations may voluntarily enter in order to gain his permission to bless same gender unions. He compared his process to the one implemented by the Bishop of Texas.

While a general ban on the blessing of same gender unions remains in place, he will allow congregations which self-select and undergo a thorough process to move toward blessings of same gender unions.

Clergy and vestry – the elected lay leaders of a local congregation – will be free to enter into a process of prayer and study on the matter. They will be asked to submit the design and results of their study and also to explain to the Bishop how the blessing of same gender unions would enhance the congregation’s missional efforts. He said he would also require those congregations discerning such a call to describe how they would prepare couples for the blessing liturgy. Congregations would also be required to report back on their experience in time for the 2015 General Convention.

Read it all.


Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings • * Christian Life / Church Life • Liturgy, Music, Worship • Parish Ministry • * Theology • Anthropology • Ethics / Moral Theology • Pastoral Theology • Theology: Scripture

6 Comments
Posted February 4, 2013 at 3:11 pm [Printer Friendly] [Print w/ comments]



1. Dan Crawford wrote:

Missippi? When was it established as a diocese?

February 4, 6:52 pm | [comment link]
2. Ralph wrote:

M-I-S,
S-I-S,
S-I-P-P-I.

It used to be so hard to spell, it used to make me cry, but since I’ve studied spelling, it’s just like pumpkin pie.

M-I-S,
S-I-S,
S-I-P-P-I.

February 4, 8:42 pm | [comment link]
3. Statmann wrote:

Another dio in the SE region joins the Gay Agenda.  For 2002 to 2011 using Members, ASA, and inflation adjusted Plate & Pledge for performance, 17 of the 30 best dioceses were in the SE region. And only TWO of the 30 worst were in the SE region. Will same-sex marriage affect the performance of dioceses in the SE region?  If it does, TEC may well face another fiscal crisis for the 2015 GC.  By the way, Ole Miss ranked number 21.  Statmann

February 4, 9:51 pm | [comment link]
4. driver8 wrote:

While a general ban on the blessing of same gender unions remains in place, he will allow congregations which self-select and undergo a thorough process to move toward blessings of same gender unions.

What exactly is remaining in place? You are “generally banned” from blessing SSU, unless you actually want to bless SSU, in which case speak with the bishop and go ahead.

I know honor is an old fashioned idea but breaking one’s word used to be a shameful business.

February 5, 9:25 pm | [comment link]
5. driver8 wrote:

I should say in the Alice in Wonderland language of this press release, a “general ban” is wholly compatible with every parish in the diocese blessing same sex partnerships.

February 5, 9:43 pm | [comment link]
6. Sarah1 wrote:

RE: “While a general ban on the blessing of same gender unions remains in place . . . “

Heh.

Heh heh.

Already feeling the heat, huh?

What a perfectly awful, gutless, laughable attempt at spin and obfuscation.

February 5, 10:45 pm | [comment link]
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