Loading...Statement of the Rt. Rev. Edwin F. (Ted) Gulick Jr, bishop of Kentucky and provisional bishop of Fort Worth, regarding Resolution D025, which addresses the Episcopal Church's stance on the ordination of gay and lesbian persons and includes their consecration as bishops. The resolution was adopted by General Convention yesterday (July 14).
July 14, 2009
Since The Daily put out by Episcopal Life at Convention online and in the print edition has so misrepresented the reality represented by Resolution D025, I feel the need to make the following statement. I look forward to making a full report on General Convention to both the Diocese of Kentucky and the Diocese of Fort Worth.
I asked the presiding bishop during debate and before the vote on D025, “Would you see the moratorium enjoined upon us by the Windsor Process would not be lifted until a diocese elects a gay or lesbian person to the episcopate and that person is consecrated?”
Her response was definitive that the moment of a lifting of a moratorium would be that act and not this resolution.
I would add on a personal note that given the Episcopal Church's understanding of our commitment to our mission projects in the Anglican Communion and our deep bonds of affection with the Communion that it would be impossible for us not to consider our brothers and sisters in the Communion in a discernment process in an episcopal election. There is nothing in this resolution that would preclude such a consideration in that discernment.
What this resolution does is remind the Church of the reality in our canons that the discernment process toward ordination is by canon open to all the baptized and states that this continues to be our canonical reality.
