by Helen Parmley
(ENS) Ten Episcopal bishops who were stunned recently by an ecclesiastical court's ruling that church "core doctrine" does not prohibit ordaining homosexuals who are in committed relationships, stopped short of filing an appeal Tuesday.
Although they decried the court's opinion in the case of Bishop Walter Righter as "flawed and erroneous," the objecting bishops announced in a press conference in Dallas, Texas, May 28, that it was "premature" to decide about an appeal before the court responds to official objections or "exceptions" to the decision that they had filed.
Instead, the bishops announced that they would be proposing a canon for adoption by the 1997 General Convention that would oblige all members of clergy "to model in their own lives the received teaching of the church that all its members are to abstain from sexual relations outside of holy matrimony."
The bishops held the press conference in an airport hotel to release their four-page "Response to the Opinions of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop" following a day-and-a-half- long strategy meeting. About 40 clergy, lay people and members of the press, along with nine of the 10 bishops, attended the press conference.
Stating a position with money
The bishops further called on those who share their opinion to express their "commitment to biblical faith and practice" to their church leaders, and to "direct their personal resources, as a matter of stewardship, to those ministries that proclaim the historic and biblical Christian faith."
Bishop William Wantland of Eau Claire pointed out that the prelates' statement did not ask that anyone "divert" their resources from the national Episcopal Church, but just that they exercise good stewardship to the Christian mission.
The diocese of at least one of the bishops, however, John Howe of Central Florida, has expressed its intent to send about $100,000 that would have supported the national program to other missionary causes.
The decision of the Court for the Trial of a Bishop, handed down May 15, responded to charges brought by the 10 bishops that Righter had violated the doctrine of the church and his ordination vows in ordaining as a deacon the Rev. Barry Stopfel, a gay man engaged in a long- term homosexual relationship.
In 1979, General Convention, the chief legislative body of the church, adopted a resolution declaring that ordaining non-celibate homosexuals was "inappropriate." The court interpreted that resolution as a recommendation only, and, without making any pronouncements on the policy of the church, ruled that Righter's actions were not prohibited by current church canons.
Move to General Convention welcomed
Righter welcomed the 10 bishops' intention to take the issue to General Convention, and noted that the court had clearly recommended that General Convention resolve the question.
"I'm delighted that they're asking General Convention to look at the issue, even though I disagree with the way that they are proposing to revise the canons," he said. "It seems to me it belongs in General Convention rather than a court. It's legislative rather than judicial."
Presumably, other resolutions to institute canons that would make ordinations of non- celibate homosexuals clearly permissible will also be submitted, he said. "There will be other resolutions and arguments. I trust General Convention."
Resolutions on both sides of the ordination issue, including canonical changes essentially identical with the language proposed by the 10 bishops, have been considered and rejected at past conventions.
Episcopal Church out of step?
In their statement, the bishops declared that they rejected the court's ruling and stated that "in our dioceses we will refuse to ordain, admit or license clergy" who will not subscribe to their proposed canon. They also proclaimed that they would be creating "a fellowship of Episcopal parishes and dioceses which uphold scriptural authority" to support congregations in dioceses where "the bishop has departed from the standards and norms set forth by the church's teaching."
That the issue of human sexuality is dominating the agenda of the Episcopal Church, as well as other mainline denominations, is "no surprise in a culture that is obsessed with sexuality," said Bishop James Stanton of Dallas, a spokesman for the 10 bishops. "It is an issue the church had to face," he said.
Bishop Howe said that while he believes the universal Christian church will survive the split in positions on human sexuality, he is uncertain how the Episcopal Church will change. "We are totally out of step with the rest of the Anglican Communion and the people in Africa and Asia who are trying to win new converts, who are horrified by what they see us doing with this issue," he said.
"The gates of hell will not prevail against The Church, but how this will be played out in the Episcopal Church, I do not know," Howe said.
--Helen Parmley is the retired religion editor for the Dallas Morning News. The text of the bishops' statement is available.