Bishop Probe wrote to say that LGBTQ people are God's beloved, made in the image of God, and are our beloved neighbors, friends, clergy and lay leaders of The Episcopal Church.

The official language requires same-sex marriage ceremonies to be held within all dioceses regardless of the will or conscience of the local bishop -- a "compromise" policy requires an objecting bishop to invite bishops from other dioceses to "provide pastoral support" to same-sex couples seeking to be civilly married in an Episcopal Church ceremony. Bishop Love objects to this. He won't invite another bishop. He won't cave.

Such rites were authorized by Resolution B012 of the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church last summer, but Bishop Love wrote in a pastoral letter to his diocese stating his refusal to live within Resolution B012 (Marriage Rites for the Whole Church). The resolution is scheduled to take effect on the first Advent of Sunday December 2, 2018.

In his pastoral letter, Love wrote of his opposition to the resolution both at General Convention and continuing until now;

Parish officials and church members say they are being prevented from rendering community outreach services to diverse, underserved populations in Stamford and Norwalk at a time of year when those services are needed most. They also say the action of the bishop stopped them from allowing use of their buildings to community groups. Access to parish records concerning important events in parishioners' lives are presently foreclosed, they say.