Montrose Episcopal church will offer same-sex blessings

Houston, USA - Following the Episcopal Church's likely approval of a liturgy blessing same-sex relationships at its summer convention, a Montrose congregation will be among the first in Texas to offer gay and lesbian couples this rite, the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle said.

Doyle, bishop of the Texas Diocese, named St. Stephen's Episcopal Church as the first in Houston to be allowed to offer the proposed ceremonies for same-sex couples.

The Episcopal Church has held an ongoing debate regarding gay congregants and clergy for decades and began ordaining openly gay priests in the '90s, a gay bishop in 2003 and a lesbian bishop in 2010, but the issue of homosexuality continues to elicit debate.

"While I long for the day when there will be full marriage equality in the Church and in the State, I consider this a very important step in that process," said the Rev. Lisa Hunt, rector at St. Stephen's, in a letter to parishioners. "St. Stephen's has an opportunity to witness to the action of God in our midst in the lives of couples in our community."

More interest expected

Ultimately, "a handful" of the 153 churches in the area diocese, which expands from Houston across to the Hill Country, are expected to express interest in offering same-sex blessings, said Carol Barnwell, spokeswoman for the diocese. The bishop also plans to allow an Austin congregation to offer the rites.

St. Stephen's has been active in GLBT ministry in Montrose for decades and could hold its first same-sex blessing ceremony as early as this December.

"I'm very excited. I know there will be some couples interested in it," Hunt said. "We've got a lot of discernment to do there. We have couples in our parish who have been together for 30 years."

Hunt helped organize a conference in 2010 that aimed to encourage the diocese to hold more conversations around inclusion and better involve GLBT Episcopalians in ministry.

Not all clergy in favor

The state of Texas does not recognize same-sex unions, and a number of Texas Episcopalians are not in favor of the church doing so, even though the liturgy for blessing relationships is different from a marriage ceremony and would not create or solemnize legal unions. It also does not change requirements that gay clergy remain celibate.

Doyle, head of the Texas Diocese, said he plans to vote against the resolution to approve the same-sex blessings and "personally will not bless any same-gender covenant."

Doyle has discussed the rites in a lengthy document called Unity in Mission, posted on the diocesan website.

"This is wrapped in a lot of prayer and pastoral care for people," said Barnwell. "A lot of introspection and theological study went into it, and that's why it's 120 pages long. I would encourage people to read all of it."

The proposal being considered by the national convention in Indianapolis in July addresses a range of theological differences Episcopalians may have about the rite.

"We understand the celebration and blessing of committed, monogamous, lifelong, faithful same-gender relationships as part of the Church's work of offering outward and visible signs of God's grace among us," it reads. "The Church's blessing also sets the relationship apart for God's purposes and prays for the divine grace the couple will need to fulfill those purposes."

Methodists may follow

Many Episcopalians expect the church could later develop these rites for same-sex relationship blessings into a proposed liturgy for same-sex marriage ceremonies.

The United Methodist Church will be addressing similar issues as it meets for its general conference in Tampa through May 4. Some in the church have proposed removing a phrase calling homosexual behavior "incompatible with Christian teaching" from a book of church doctrine, the Religion News Service reported.