Elizabeth Kaeton "Does the Math"

With the groundswell of movement on civil marriage equality, a number of us have been "doing the math" (or getting other people to do it for us!) about how all this impacts the Episcopal Church.

The best summary and reflection comes from our friend Elizabeth Kaeton over at "Telling Secrets" ... well done, Elizabeth (and Barbara!) ... which I want to share here for those with ears to hear:

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The Anglican Consultative Council, having met in Kingston, Jamaica, has finished its work. It passed various resolutions, but none of more interest to people in this neighborhood than Resolution ACC-14.

No surprises, really, especially parts c, d and e, to wit:

c. affirms the request of the Windsor Report (2004), adopted at the Primates’ Meetings (2005, 2007 and 2009), and supported at the Lambeth Conference (2008) for the implementation of the agreed moratoria on the Consecration of Bishops living in a same gender union, authorisation of public Rites of Blessing for Same Sex unions and continued interventions in other Provinces;

d. acknowledges the efforts that have been made to hold to the moratoria, gives thanks for the gracious restraint that has been observed in these areas and recognises the deep cost of such restraint;

e. asks that urgent conversations are facilitated with those Provinces where the application of the moratoria gives rise for concern;

A colleague of mine asked, "Okay, so the hill we have to climb in Anaheim just got piled higher. What are we to say to the 'movable middle' (whatever THAT is, anymore) or those bishops who have been drinking the Lambeth Kool-Aid who say 'but the Communion says . . .'?"

Here's my answer: DO THE MATH!

Gay Marriage is now legal in five states: Vermont, Connecticut, Iowa. Massachusetts. and Maine. It has passed the NH legislature and is expected to be signed into law by the Governor.

Gay Rights Activist are predicting a sweep of the North East (little RI) by 2012.

Last month, the D.C. Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of legislation recognizing same-sex marriages from other states as marriage in the District -- a move lauded by lawmakers as a step toward legalizing gay marriage in the city.

President Obama has pledged a full repeal of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which currently guarantees that no state needs to treat a relationship between two people of the same sex as marriage, even if it is considered a marriage in another state, and further directs the Federal Government not to treat same-sex relationships as marriages for any purpose, even if concluded or recognized by one of the states.

So, to recap: There are five states which allow gay marriage and nine others (California, New Jersey, New Hampshire (marriage pending), Oregon, District of Columbia, Washington, Hawaii, Maryland, and Colorado) have domestic partnerships or civil unions -- with one, New York, on the cusp of marriage equality (and California awaiting their Supreme Court decision on marriage).

If you've been keeping track, that's 15 (one immanently pending) jurisdictions in The United States with some form of marriage equality.

What does that mean for Episcopalians?

There are THIRTY dioceses of the Episcopal Church now have members within their jurisdiction calling on their church to provide pastoral care in the celebration and blessing of their unions.

Don't believe me? Here are the facts:

Jurisdictions with domestic partnership or civil unions

State: California
Dioceses: 6 - California, Northern California, El Camino Real, San Joaquin, Los Angeles, San Diego

State: New Jersey
Diocese: 2 - New Jersey, Newark

State: New Hampshire (marriage pending)
Diocese: 1

State: Oregon
Diocese: 2 - Oregon, Eastern Oregon

State: Washington, DC
Diocese: 1

State: Washington
Diocese: 2 - Spokane, Olympia

State: Hawai'i
Diocese: 1

State: Maryland
Diocese: 2 - Maryland, Easton

State: Colorado
Diocese: 1

Jurisdictions in the U.S. that offer marriage equality to same-sex couples:

State: Massachusetts
Dioceses: 2 - Massachusetts, Western Massachusetts

State: Connecticut
Diocese: 1

State: Vermont
Diocese: 1

State: Iowa
Diocese: 1

State: Maine
Diocese: 1

Jurisdictions with pending marriage equality legislation:

State: New York
Dioceses: 6 - Albany, New York, Central New York, Rochester, Western New York, Long Island

AND THE TOTAL IS: 30

How significant is that?

Well, there are 110 dioceses in The Episcopal Church - which means that 27% or well MORE THAN 1/4 of the Episcopal dioceses are affected by marriage equality.

Like math? Want more?

Look at the latest numbers for Communicants and Average Sunday Attendance. I know. We all know that these are just estimates, but let's work with what we've got.

There are a reported 1,795,325 Communicants in good standing in The Episcopal Church.

The Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) in The Episcopal Church is reported at 768,320.

If you look at the numbers for the 15 affected dioceses, there are a reported 664,166 Communicants.

The Average Sunday Attendance in those diocese is 28,334.

That means that 37% of Communicants in The Episcopal Church as well as those who attend our churches are directly affected by the pastoral concerns of their LGBT members who enjoy the civil right of marriage.

What does any of this have to do with recommendations of the ACC?

A whole lot.

We've been repeatedly asked to understand the contextual realities of the various dioceses and provinces in the World Wide Anglican Communion. And, I think we have made a serious effort to do just that.

It's time, however, to put the sacristy slipper on the other ecclesiastical foot.

The contextual realities of The Episcopal Church are that 27% of our dioceses and 37% of our Communicants in good standing are directly affected by the issue of marriage equality.

Isn't it ironic that the religious community, which has taken the lead on every Civil Rights issue - with the exception of the Americans with Disabilities Act - is woefully lacking in leadership on the issue of Civil Rights for its LGBT citizens?

Are we to turn our backs on this growing pastoral need in the name of unity?

How can we continue to honor the moratorium for authorization of liturgical rites of blessings for same gender couples when more and more states are moving ahead on the issue of civil rights for LGBT people?

I think the answer is obvious: Do the math!

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BRAVA!

Bottom line for me: Our call to the church gathered in convention will be to challenge it to live up to its pastoral responsiblity to minister to the reality of life "on the ground" in now 30 dioceses of The Episcopal Church. The parallel with women's ordination is a very real one.

In 1972, the church failed to approve the ordination of women because it needed "more time" and because of concerns about relationships in the wider communion. In 1974 we 11 ordained women anyway (and 4 more in 1975 in Washington) so by 1976 women priests were no longer hypothetical -- they were ontological. And the church had to find a way to deal with it. And it did.

Fast forward to 2009. Same sex married couples are no longer hypothetical -- they are ontological. And the church needs to find a way to deal with it. And we will be calling it to do precisely that. In Anaheim. In July. Do THAT math!

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The Week That Was

So I'm playing "catch up" with this past whirlwind week that included the extraordinary opportunity to represent Integrity USA in two historic venues -- in the pulpit at Christ Church, Philadelphia and in the halls of Congress on Capitol Hill.

In Philadelphia (as noted earlier on this blog) I had the honor of being the preacher at the interfaith service concluding the Equality Forum 2009 -- a national gathering of LGBT activists that included San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as a keynote speaker.

There was a deep sense of being part of history in that place -- not only of the history that seeps out of the pours of Christ Church where the first General Convention met in 1789 and where Bishop William White is buried -- not only the history of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell we all learned about in grade school -- but the history we are living in 2009 as we see "liberty and justice for all" come closer to really meaning "all" with this week's gains on marriage equality.

After the truly awesome experience of preaching from the pulpit where generations of Episcopal preachers have stood (a sermon entitled "Patience isn't all it's cracked up to be" and posted on the Christ Church website) I took a late train to Washington DC in order to be part of the "Clergy Call for Justice" sponsored by the HRC (Human Rights Campaign).

Hundreds of clergy from every state and many denominations and faiths stood together on the Washington Mall and called for Congress to pass the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill and to end employment discrimination by supporting a fully inclusive ENDA bill. What an honor to stand with Rabbis Steven Jacobs and Denise Eger, with Tony and Peggy Campolo, with Pastor Erin Swenson ... well, it was not just a "great cloud of witnesses," it was a FABULOUS Cloud of Witnesses! (Read an AP report on the gathering here.)

After the press conference (pictured above) we split up into state delegations and called on our senate and house representatives for one-on-one lobbying conversations about moving this legislation forward. (Here's a photo of just some of the Episcopal clergy who participated:)


It was -- to say the least -- a full week! But it was one full not only with events, meetings and travel but with the abundant blessing of taking our gospel message of God's inclusive love to both allies and decision makers as we continue to call both our church and our nation to live up to their high calling to embrace all members -- to empower all citizens -- equally.

Here's a "slide show" of the week -- I hope it captures just a little of the energy and hope and enthusiasm of those committed to this work we have both the privilege and opportunity to do together in these historic times!

"The Constant Process" in Long Beach this weekend

"The Constant Process" -- the documentary by Mormon filmmaker Douglas Hunter -- is screening tomorrow in Long Beach as part of the 4th Annual Qfilm festival -- benefitting The Center: Long Beach.

Douglas and I are doing a Q&A after the screening. If you're in the Long Beach area, stop by and say hey! (Info on the festival here ... info on the film here.)

Happy Almost Mother's Day!

Maybe it's because I'm the mother of two boys or maybe it's because this really IS the funniest Mother's Day "card" ever ... but here -- once again -- is my annual post of a behind the scenes look at two guys trying to make Mother's Day happy for their mom! ENJOY!

Prayers Ascending ...

... for those battling the wildfires in Santa Barbara and for ALL in harm's way -- especially our friends at Trinity Church and the OHC brothers. Sobering to watch the morning news reports and -- having lived in Santa Barbara -- see just how much of the city is in jeopardy.

(Keith Cullom / Associated Press)

(Rafael Maldonado / Associated Press)

"As Maine Goes ..." ??????

Maine becomes 5th state to approve marriage equality

(from the AP report:)

"In the past, I opposed gay marriage while supporting the idea of civil unions," Governor Baldacci said in a statement read in his office. "I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law, and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage."

"Clergy to lobby on Hill for gay rights" -- an AP report on today's HRC Clergy Call

So I've got pictures of my own to post and a lot to share about a great two days of work and witness in Washington, but that's a "stay tuned" because tonight I'm too pounded to anything but websurf and get to bed early for an early flight back to L.A. in the morning. HOWEVER, this AP report gives the "gist" ... more to come!

[AP] The U.S. Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop is among hundreds of clergy members urging Congress to support gay rights, including the passage of an expanded hate crimes bill that would give gay victims of violence new federal protections.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire and more than 300 clergy of various faiths plan to spend Tuesday on Capitol Hill lobbying lawmakers to push through a bill that broadens the definition of hate crimes to include those motivated by a person's sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. The legislation was passed by the House last week.

Clergy also will push for legislation providing protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

It is the second time the lobbying effort known as Clergy Call has been held on Capitol Hill; the first event was held two years ago.

"They're not here to grind political axes," said Harry Knox of the Human Rights Campaign, which is sponsoring the event. "They're here out of a pastoral concern for real people in their congregations who have to deal with the ramifications of hate violence and employment discrimination."

The 2009 Clergy Call comes amid significant victories for the gay rights movement, including the recent legalization of same-sex marriage in Iowa and Vermont.

Also on Tuesday, the D.C. Council is expected to take a final vote on legislation recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The vote will place the issue before Congress, which has final say over the city's laws.

Bishop Robinson, who delivered the invocation during a kickoff concert at the Lincoln Memorial for President Obama's inauguration, said that despite recent momentum, an uphill struggle continues for gay rights supporters in the religious community. He said that's because their message is often overshadowed by many on the religious right.

"Religion in general still presents the greatest obstacles we face in full equality," he said Monday during a speech at Calvary Baptist Church in downtown Washington. "Ninety-five percent of the oppression that we know in our lives comes from the religious community."

Bishop Robinson's 2003 consecration has divided the Episcopal Church in the United States and abroad. Last year, theological conservatives upset by liberal views of U.S. Episcopalians and Canadian Anglicans formed a rival North American province.

Bishop Robinson said he continues to deal with threats. On Monday, he spoke of a scare earlier this year in which a man was arrested while driving with a sawed-off shotgun, a map to his home, and photographs of the bishop and his partner taken from the Internet.

He spoke of the importance of clergy members who are reaching out to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. "We actually are the bridge between the LGBT equality movement and those institutions which are afraid of it," he said.

Mr. Knox, the director of the Human Rights Campaign's religion and faith program, said Tuesday's daylong lobbying effort would include 325 clergy members from various religions representing Christians, Buddhists, Jews and Muslims.