[Magdalen] A message from Bishop Provisional of TECSC

[thedonboyd at austin.rr.com]

FWIW, a week ago we had our first same-sex wedding at St. James', Austin (a historically Black congregation that decided some years ago to welcome all comers as their founders has not been welcomed by the white Episcopal congregations in town).  That "all are welcome at this table" invitation has brought quite a few same-sex couples as members, as well as others who for whatever reason felt unwelcome elsewhere.  St. James' is one of the DioTX parishes that have, with Bp Andy's consent, blessed same-sex unions that were contracted legally in other jurisdictions.

The couple involved (Lynn, I'm sure you know them)were legally married in Canada but wished to renew their vows in the presence of their friends and church family as soon as it was legally possible.  (The local county clerk's office began issuing licenses within hours of the Supreme Court's announcement, and stayed open late to accommodate the many couples who were standing in line.  The Austin newspaper reported that judges and ministers were going up and down the courthouse hallways offering to officiate weddings for newly-licensed couples.)

I am disappointed that Bishop Andy felt unable to vote "Yes" on the issue at GC, and wonder what he would have done if the outcome of the vote had been expected to be close.  I can understand why he would have decided that a "Yes" vote would be seen by the large and influential traditionalist bloc as a deliberate insult--and some of these folks would be delighted to have an excuse to bolt from TEC.

 
---- Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com> wrote: 
> To Eleanor - I posted his letter to the diocese here. He said that he kept going back and forth in his thinking about voting yes or no and finally decided to abstain, acknowledging that abstaining would be counted as no. To his credit in dio TX 3 years ago after GC he did approve blessings in two churches in the dio. The power and perceptions in my dio still run strong against fully moving forward. Second guessing I think he thinks time will change hearts here. I think that will take decades especially with the current political climate and pushback on the SCOTUS ruling and the perception of Texas empire.  Sigh. 
> Lynn
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Jul 2, 2015, at 2:21 PM, Eleanor Braun <eleanor.braun at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Did Andy explain why he abstained?  Let your yes be yes (and your no be no).
> 
> Eleanor
> 
> On Thu, Jul 2, 2015 at 12:30 PM, Lynn Ronkainen <houstonklr at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
> > in dio of TX HoB
> > 
> > Andy abstained
> > and our other 2 bishops voted  no
> > 
> > L
> > 
> > website: www.ichthysdesigns.com
> > 
> > When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that I have not
> > a single bit of talent left and could say, "I used everything You gave me."
> > attributed to Erma Bombeck
> > "Either Freedom for all or stop talking about Freedom at all" from a talk
> > by Richard Rohr
> > 
> > --------------------------------------------------
> > From: "Ginga Wilder" <gingawilder at gmail.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 8:34 AM
> > To: <magdalen at herberthouse.org>
> > Subject: [Magdalen] A message from Bishop Provisional of TECSC
> > 
> > 
> > *Note: The House of Deputies on Wednesday concurred with the House of
> >> Bishops on two resolutions that provide two new marriage liturgies for
> >> trial use, and change the canon regarding marriage. An Episcopal News
> >> Service article on these changes can be foundhere
> >> <
> >> http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/07/01/general-convention-approves-marriage-equality/
> >>> .
> >> Bishop
> >> vonRosenberg voted in favor of these resolutions, A054 and A036, and the
> >> South Carolina deputation was unanimous in voting for them.*
> >> 
> >> http://episcopalsc.blogspot.com/
> >> 
> >> Alleluia!
> >> Ginga Wilder
> > 
> >