Reflections
on General Convention

August 17, 2003 Pentecost 10

Karl Ruttan

It’s been a quiet week in Lake Woebegone Minnesota. I figure that’s one way that I might describe my last two weeks in Minnesota. Maybe I should call this sermon:

"What I did on my summer vacation" or "My Two Weeks in the Twin Cities." I guess you heard a little bit about it back here in Charleston

What I want to talk to you about today is the 74th General Convention. No doubt you have already heard a great deal about it. None the less I think this is important enough that we should take time with it- partly because I fear events were so sensationalized that I would like to tell you a different story. I would like to tell you what transpired from my point of view. Furthermore I want to tell you why I voted as I did, so that, whether you agree or not, there is no misunderstanding. Actually the true title of this sermon is "Why I voted for the consent of Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire." I will make three points: First why I voted for Gene Robinson. Secondly why the vote was by no means an easy one to make. And thirdly I would like to talk a little bit about how this event effects our Church and St. John’s.

Why I voted for Gene Robinson

The 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church was presented a choice. After an election of a Bishop in a diocese, the Church at large ratifies that election. A majority of the House of Bishops and a majority of the Standing Committees of each diocese must give consent. However, when the election falls within three months of the General Convention, the House of Deputies must concur, acting in the place of the Standing Committees. The House of Bishops must also consent. So when Gene Robinson, a gay priest who is living in a long time committed relationship was elected Bishop of New Hampshire in June, the General Convention was forced to take action. Prior to Convention the Theology Committee of the House of Bishops had recommended that the Convention not take up the divisive issues of homosexuality because the Church was divided on the issue.

Gene Robinson was overwhelmingly elected by the Diocese of New Hampshire. The process of his election involved a thorough screening of his background and extensive interviews with him and the other candidates. Gene had served in the Diocese for twenty-eight years and was currently the Canon to the Ordinary. Almost universally he was acclaimed as a fine priest and a holy man. One testimony particularly spoke to me: David Jones, the dean of the Cathedral and a friend of mine who I knew in Pittsburgh, is far more conservative theologically than I. He was quoted in the New York Times expressing his support of Canon Robinson. He said that ten years ago he could not have voted for a gay man for Bishop but knowing Gene Robinson had changed his mind.

For an action to pass it must be approved by both the House of Bishops and House of Deputies.. The House of Deputies is made up of clergy and lay persons from each diocese with each diocese getting four clergy and four lay deputies. If a vote by orders is called for on any vote, an action must get a majority of lay votes and a majority of clergy votes. In a vote by orders, each diocese gets one lay vote and one clergy vote. The four lay deputies make up the one lay vote; and the clergy compose the one clergy vote . In order to win the diocese’s vote, a majority of the lay persons must agree- that is three of the four and similarly for the clergy vote. If two vote yes and two vote no it is a divided vote which essentially becomes a no vote. So winning a vote requires much more than a simple majority. In the vote for the consent of Gene Robinson, the clergy votes was divided in our diocese, two for and two opposed so it was counted as a no vote. In the lay order it was no with three lay deputies voting no and one yes. The vote was in favor with about sixty per cent voting yes.

The civility and care that went into the debate over consent was inspiring. Although people felt deeply about the outcome, love and concern was shown in how we proceeded. Each day was begun with deputies sharing in table groups at Eucharist.. We made all our decisions with great prayer- pausing for silence and prayer before key votes were taken. No demonstrations of approval or disapproval were permitted. After the consent vote, a minority were allowed to address the convention expressing their deep disappointment and dismay. Great care was shown everywhere. Newspapers around the country praised Episcopalians for their civility and respect to each other. I am convinced that all deputies who voted took seriously what they were doing and each listened carefully as best they could to God’s call on them. It was a very spiritual time.

When charges of misconduct arose against Gene Robinson, it was a horrible blow. But I tell you, the House of Bishop’s dealt with them admirably. They considered them carefully- giving the message to the world that we take allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously. The charges were thoroughly investigated by talking to all parties involved. They were soon found to be without merit. And yet to show the importance of the deliberation and the openness of our church the report was publicly released. It makes me proud to be an Episcopalian. How we honor and love one another.

On the issue of the blessing of same sex unions- a resolution was passed to continue dialogue on this issue. It affirmed that many dioceses within our common bond are already exploring and experiencing same sex blessings. Although it did not endorse these blessings, it also did not prohibit them which in effect affirms the status quo that different dioceses will take different actions.

I voted yes because first of all I wanted to honor the process of the New Hampshire diocese.

I came to understand that a vote consent is affirmation that the election was done in accordance with the canons and that the candidate has sworn to follow his ordination vows and be faithful to them. On these two questions their can be little doubt. With this understanding a vote to consent is not about Gene Robinson’s sexual orientation but about the right process of the election. Only once before has an election been turned down in the Episcopal Church and that was in the mid-nineteenth century.

Secondly I voted yes for the future of the Church and for who I believe God is calling us to be.

I prayed long and hard about this decision. I asked myself again and again what would Jesus do. I recalled how Jesus welcomed the little child, how Jesus welcomes the down and out and those in need. And how Jesus welcomes sinners like me. Is Gene Robinson any less welcome than I am? I think not. Would Jesus exclude Gene from his table? I don’t believe he would. Would Jesus exclude a holy man like Gene Robinson from his leadership? I don’t think so.

I voted for the future when I voted yes for Gene Robinson. The youth presence at convention were strongly in support of Gene Robinson. Much of our biases are cultural. I want to be in a church that welcomes all God’s people-- an inclusive church that is willing to speak up for what it believes.

But of course those opposed will start pointing to scripture to justify their opposition to gays in ordination and leadership in our church

I take scripture very seriously. It is the seat of our revelation and our norm as to how we know God. I affirmed in my ordination that scripture contains all things necessary to salvation. I have carefully and prayerfully considered scripture on this issue and I do not believe it condemns wholesome homosexual love as lived by Gene Robinson

Jesus said nothing about homosexuality- but he showed his overwhelming love for all. This morning’s Gospel says

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day;

56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.

57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.

We gather at the table and commit ourselves to day to partake of Jesus and live his life. The Gospel that we as Episcopalians proclaim is the prodigious love of God made know in Jesus Christ which brings us all to the table of God’s love -and that love changes us by God to have hearts of love and openness for others. This is the overwhelming message of Jesus’ love and all other passages of scripture must be put in this context.

There are only five passages in scripture which refer to homosexuality. The passage from Genesis 19 on Sodom and Gomorrah is clearly a condemnation of inhospitality and abuse. Precisely what happened in this passage is male rape– clearly that is condemned not homosexuality.

The Leviticus passage (18:27) which states "Thou shall not lie with mankind, it is an abomination." That sounds in its condemnation. But this is in the context of the Old Testament purity code which equally condemns, among other items, eating shell fish, wearing fabrics of mixed fibers (poly-cotton blends?) and having intercourse during a woman’s period. As Christians we are not bound by this ritual holiness code. Saint Paul’s argument about the law is based on this distinction. His argument in Romans 1:26-27 is that we are not bound by this holiness code any more. Our salvation is through Christ Jesus and our faith in him and not through our ritual purity. Romans 1:26-27 condemns idolatry not homosexuality. Unnatural passion is the result of idolatry. Homosexuality, he argues is unconventional, and to a Jew may even be unseemly, that is not the norm. But the sin is not the sexual behavior but our separation from God. Paul’s argument is that we are all sinners, idolatry is the sin that separates us from God.

The passages in 1 Timothy 1:0 and I Corinthians 6:9 are difficult to translate into modern English. Greek scholars suggest that they may be responding to male prostitutes (who sleep with men and women) or pedophiles or rapists. At any rate, even the most conservative scholars would agree that these letters are not referring to homosexual expressions in committed monogamous relationships. Our understanding of homosexuality is vastly different from the Roman world.

Finally, I have become persuaded that homosexual orientation is a part of God’s created order. People do not choose to by heterosexual or homosexual - they just are. God created people that way. However, how we live out our human sexuality is a matter of choice. God calls us to express our sexuality in the context of life-giving love. Since God created us with our sexual desires, how can God condemn if they are used in ways that express love and honor another. Would God deny us love?

The confirmation of Gene Robinson or the exploration of rites for same sex blessing is not a move towards license or anything goes. The Episcopal Church, in this convention and prior conventions, has worked to define holy love which is expected of all such relationships. Partnered relationships are to be committed, faithful and monogamous in which one can learn to see the image of God in the other. Such relationships are to be marked by honest communication and open expression. The church condemns promiscuity, exploitation, and abuse. In these words, the Episcopal Church has begun to provide a theology for holy living and has begun to give norms to what holy and wholesome relationships in partnerships must be.

For these reasons I voted for consent. Because God’s love is greater than the boxes I want to put it in. Furthermore I have seen the liberation that gay people have found when they find themselves back at home in the love of Christ. Often at St. John’s I have seen the new life that gay and lesbian persons have experienced when they find the love Christ has for them. They learn that they do not have to condemn their very identity as they have heard so many churches do. We as Anglican Episcopalians have a message to proclaim, the abundant, gracious accepting love of Jesus- and that is why I voted yes.

But it was not an easy vote. It was hard to vote against my colleagues who are good friends who felt that the church wasn’t ready for this move. I did not want to cast a vote that would cause pain and may divide some congregations and even the church itself. One colleague admitted who voted against consent agreed that the Biblical argument were inconclusive but that he was concerned for the unity of the church. I heard from bishops from other countries who could not accept this and urged us to wait. It broke my heart and caused me pain to cast a vote which might hurt some. I knew that my vote would hurt many I love if I voted no- and yet I knew I had to do what I believe was just and right. I know that God who is greater than I can heal our divisions. In time I am confident that this action will be seen as right. I knew I had to be true to the Gospel as I heard it.

Finally what about the church?

On the whole St. John’s has been very supportive of my votes at Convention. However I know some will disagree with me in the diocese and even here at St John’s. But I trust that we can get beyond our divisions and respect our differences. I believe we must stay together and continue to break bread together. Our strength as Anglicans is that we hold in tension our disagreements. We let Jesus bear the pain of our separations. The Episcopal Church has held together through the civil war, through disagreements about race, the role of women, and the revision of the prayer book. We do so because we are people of love and humility. We understand that we need each other because none of us can see the whole truth. I need those who disagree to show me Christ in a new way. In this church we need everyone, liberal and conservative, rich and poor, gay and straight, male and female. On the night of the vote I went to dinner with the two clergy who voted against the election and we broke bread- we need to affirm that the church holds all of us. I hope to God that if you disagree with me you will trust that God can hold our tension and keep us at the table. I hope that God will keep the unity of the Episcopal Church. And I hope we will always do what we believe is right and just. I hope we can listen and respect each other and continue to be God’s people. Let’s get about the ministry of proclaiming the love of Christ to our world.