As we make our final approach to the 74th triennial General Convention in Minneapolis, we are attracting an increasing amount of public attention for two significant decisions that the convention will make. I wanted you to be aware of the coverage we are attracting and the news sources for following convention developments from next Wednesday, 7/30 to Friday, 8/8:

The link is a news story that aired on the National Public Radio (NPR) program Morning Edition yesterday (7/23). It describes the positions of the two principal camps on the issue of the blessing of homosexual unions and the ceritification of Bishop-elect Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Gene is the first openly gay priest to be elected to become and Episcopal bishop.

Gene Robinson has been the subject of much recent attention since his election in New Hampshire. You can learn more about Gene by listening to Terry Gross' interview with him on the NPR program Fresh Air from Thursday, July 24th. Simply go to www.freshair.npr.org and click on the archived shows link in the left column.

Among the other recent developments you should be aware of are:
1) A group of concerned bishops and lay people met together this week in Fairfax, VA (at the church I did my field work in while in seminary!) to plan strategy to oppose both the certification of Gene Robinson's election and the blessing of homosexual unions. You can read more about their position and plans at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ens/2003-167.html
2) Twenty-four of the more than 300 Episopal bishops in this country have signed an open letter opposing the confirmation of Robinson's election. You can read more about their position in the attached Word document entitled "Open Letter"
3) Earlier in the summer, the Canadian Anglican Diocese of Westminster formally authorized its clergy to pronounce the church's blessing upon homosexuals in committed relationships.

This is a critical crossroads for our church. I'm absolutely convinced that our taking the time to hear a VARIETY of voices that are engaged in this debate will profit us both individually and as the faithful of St. George's.

I encourage you to keep track of the progress at General Convention (http://www.episcopalchurch.org/gc2003) and let it shape your own convictions about the direction that we need to move in as a church. Stay tuned...we will have an opportunity to continue the discussion in this community in the weeks and months ahead.

Peace and Blessings,
Garrett

Attachment: General Convention Hot Button (this is a 1.3 MB mp3 file)

OUT OF CHURCH’S MORE THAN 300 BISHOPS, 24 SIGN LETTER OPPOSING SAME-SEX UNIONS, ELECTION OF ROBINSON

(Los Angeles, The Episcopal News, July 23, 2003) -- Out of the more than 300 bishops listed in the Episcopal Church in the United States, 24 of them -- 17 active and seven retired - sent a July 17 letter breaking ties with the Diocese of New Westminster in Canada after that diocese authorized blessing of same-gender unions.
“We begin by stating that we utterly repudiate the recent actions of the Synod and the Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster in authorizing liturgies for blessing same-sex partnerships,” the letter said. “At the same time, we wish to speak in more detail to the unfolding situation in the Episcopal Church, among whose leaders we have been called and consecrated.”
Specifically, the bishops objected to the election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson as bishop coadjutor of New Hampshire, and to a resolution to be considered by next week’s General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.A. calling for a rite for blessing same-gender unions, both of which they called “symbols of a desperately confused, errant and disintegrating Anglican province. At stake are the fundamental doctrines of apostolicity and of marriage. The confirmation by national synodical vote of the bishop-elect or the adoption of any same-sex marriage provisions would be unparalleled departures from received church order and universal church teaching.” The bishops also stated that a recent letter sent by Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold to fellow bishops in the U.S. Church “can have no other interpretation than encouragement for confirmation of the New Hampshire election.”
Signators to the letter were: Daniel Herzog, Bishop of Albany; Edward Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina; John Howe, Bishop of Central Florida; Bertram Herlong,
Bishop of Tennessee; James Stanton, Bishop of Dallas; Fitzsimons Allison, Bishop of South Carolina, Retired; Stephen Jecko, Bishop of Florida; Maurice (Ben) Benitez, Bishop of Texas, Retired; Jack Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth; Alex Dickson, Bishop of West Tennessee, Retired; Andrew Fairfield, Bishop of North Dakota; Alden Hathaway, Bishop of Pittsburgh, Retired; Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh; Hugo Pina-Lopez, Assistant Bishop of Central Florida; Keith Ackerman, Bishop of Quincy; Donald Parsons, Bishop of Quincy, Retired; Clarence Pope, Bishop of Fort Worth, Retired; Terrence Kelshaw, Bishop of the Rio Grande; Henry Scriven, Assistant Bishop of Pittsburgh; Gethin Hughes, Bishop of San Diego; William Skilton, Suffragan Bishop of South Carolina; John-David Schofield, Bishop of San Joaquin; William Wantland, Bishop of Eau Claire, Retired; Peter Beckwith, Bishop of Springfield.