In 2012, the General Convention approved the resource materials developed pursuant to Resolution C-056 from the 2009 General Convention. These materials included a liturgy that was authorized for provisional use in blessing same-sex relationships. It is entitled "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant" (the "Provisional Liturgy").

At the diocesan level, in 2010, following enactment of the Marriage Equality Act in the District of Columbia, the Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane permitted diocesan priests, under certain conditions, to perform, witness, and bless same-sex marriages in the District. In July 2012, following the adoption of the Provisional Liturgy by General Convention, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde authorized the use of the Provisional Liturgy within the Diocese of Washington and further authorized couples to have Episcopal clergy preside at civil same-sex weddings in the District (and in Maryland beginning January 2013). The Provisional Liturgy, which is the foundational text, concludes with the pronouncement that the couple is bound together in a holy covenant for life and, because Maryland and the District allow civil same-sex marriage, to which is added "and united in marriage according to the laws of the State of Maryland/District of Columbia."

Anglo-Catholics who have held to a high view of Scripture and the doctrine of the Church have long rejected any change in the Church's received teaching. They point to the fact that the vast majority of the Anglican Communion have not conceded to any changes on either the ordination of women to the episcopacy (though many allow women priests) and reject any changes to the canon of Scripture on same-sex unions or marriage.

Three Anglo-Catholic dioceses -- Ft. Worth, San Joaquin and Quincy - withdrew from the Episcopal Church over the issues.

All that may change for this historic parish, one of the earlier Anglican Catholic churches in the United States founded in 1866.

A letter from the Vestry to the parish community urged "deliberate conversation and discernment regarding the role of women clergy in the administration of sacramental rites at St. Paul's Parish and concerning the use at St. Paul's Parish of the provisional liturgy for the blessing of same-sex relationships."

The vestry urged "dialogue" on these issues and pointed to a series of lectures by the rector entitled "Difficult Conversations" which drew speakers to address the theological, historical and other dimensions associated with same-sex blessings. They were described as "Sacred Conversations" to interested parishioners.

To date, neither the Canons of the General Convention nor the Book of Common Prayer have been amended to change the current definition of Holy Matrimony from the union of a man and a woman. Consequently, although the State uses the term marriage in those jurisdictions where same-sex couples may be joined legally, the Episcopal Church has been careful not to use the term at this time and has not blessed same sex marriage, allowing only a Provisional Liturgy.

An activist Anglo-Catholic layman, who has watched this parish for more than 20 years and has on occasion worshipped there, was alarmed and dismayed by what he read and ripped the Vestry for its duplicity.

"With its December 20 letter to the congregation at St. Paul's K Street the vestry carefully tries to give the appearance of having gone through a process of thinking carefully through the issues of women priests and same-sex marriage. But, the process of "discernment" they talk about is no such thing. The use of the word 'discernment' is canard. What is really going on is an exercise in disinformation and propaganda. There was no anguished consideration of anything but the outcome the vestry wanted in the first place. It was never under consideration that, based on Biblical texts, traditions and theology, that the parish should continue to hold the view that only male priests can administer Holy Communion -- or that the parish could hire a rector who blessed same-sex unions or conducted sex-sex marriages. Any decisions were never going to be based on what was right in the eyes of God.

"The only discernment going on is political discernment of just how far the vestry can go in moving the parish in the direction of supporting women clergy and same-sex marriage in who is hired as the next rector and to allow for female priests and same-sex marriages at the parish. The vestry retreat and the cautiously worded letter to the congregation are par for the course in how political activists have steamrolled their way through institutions like the Episcopal Church. While they bring a wrecking ball to Christianity, tradition and the parish, they want to pretend they are thoughtful and benign and have everyone's interests at heart and want the best for the congregation. They clearly do not.

"An assumption underlies this letter that it is the vestry that can make the 'discernment' or conclusion on just how much of the congregation supports their views. I don't see any evidence of a poll. Of course, there is another assumption that if sufficient support can be found for the vestry's view, then that is a green light for them to move forward with their wrecking ball. There's no evidence that asked those oppose the innovations would react to having them imposed on the congregation. Their mission is to fool enough of the people in the middle about their good intentions to make their radical moves seem innocent and harmless so that they do not lose too many parishioners and undermine the financial condition of the parish precipitously."

Another layman believes the call for provisional rights for the blessing of same-sex unions leading to a process of discernment is, in fact, abandoning the teachings of the church totally. It is nothing more than "sophisticated disinformation."

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