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PANSEXUAL GROUPS PLAN MAJOR ASSAULT AT GENERAL CONVENTION
By David W. Virtue
www.virtueonline.org
3/31/2006
A plethora of pansexual Episcopal organizations that includes Integrity will gather under the umbrella of Claiming the Blessing where they are planning a media blitz at General Convention in June, with specific objectives to keep the Episcopal Church on its present course.
Delegates to these Lesbitransgay advocacy groups recently announced their intentions at a March 25 joint meeting at Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland and issued the following thirteen objectives.
We come to the 2006 General Convention in Columbus compelled to communicate our identity, articulate our beliefs and convey our sense of call to prophetic action and pastoral presence.
Therefore, we call the Church to:
* Work for full civil marriage equality.
* Clarify our theology of marriage, family and human sexuality.
* Oppose the limitation of adoption and other civil contracts on the basis of sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity and expression.
* Study the role of clergy as civil magistrates in marriage.
* Reaffirm the sacredness of long-term committed relationships, as articulated in D039". "We expect such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God." (GC 2000)
* Authorize the development of liturgical rites of blessings where civil marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships are a reality, and elsewhere.
* Support universal domestic partnership benefits.
* Affirm human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people worldwide.
* Work for an end to the violence against LGBT people throughout the global village.
* Engage the international community in a listening process which includes the active voices and full presence of LGBT people.
* Embrace a theology of abundance; reject the theology of scarcity, fear and scapegoating; and commit ourselves to proclaim and live the good news of Christ Jesus.
* Reaffirm that all orders of ministry are open to all the Baptized who are otherwise qualified.
* Establish as church policy the commitment not to meet in those places where justice and liberation for all God's children, including LGBT people, are absent in state law or local ordinance.
"Claiming the Blessing" is a rip off of a term once part of the non-denominational Charismatic movement. Recently it has been taken over as an intentional collaborative ministry of leading Episcopal pansexual so-called justice organizations (including Integrity, Oasis, Beyond Inclusion and the Episcopal Women's Caucus) in partnership with the Witness magazine, the Every Voice Network and other individual leaders in the Episcopal Church focused on promoting wholeness in human relationships, abolishing what they call prejudice and oppression, and healing the rift between sexuality and spirituality in the Church.
The Claiming the Blessing Steering Committee includes: Peggy Adams, J. Edwin Bacon, Jr., Cynthia Black, John Clinton Bradley, Kim Byham, Louie Crew, Cy Deavours, Lyn Headley-Deavours, Michael Hopkins, Elizabeth Kaeton, John Kirkley, Joseph Lane, Christine Mackey-Mason, Susan Russell, Jason Samuel, Katie Sherrod, John Simonelli, Jim White
One of the organizations, Integrity USA, says it wants to "keep the momentum it has gained through 30 years of respected, successful advocacy and witness." The organization said it will send more than 30 committed and well-trained volunteers to help "coordinate and prepare the testimony of witnesses at important public hearings, track legislation, monitor the work of committees, maintain a visible presence in the exhibit hall, and work cooperatively and strategically with others to advance a gospel agenda of justice and inclusion."
The Integrity assault on the Episcopal Church has been most effective in its push for pansexual acceptance culminating in 2003 with the ordination and consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson.
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