Resolution Number: 1988-D120
Title: Urge Local Discussion and Report on Human Sexuality
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Substituted and Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That this 69th General Convention affirm that the Biblical and traditional teaching on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships is a response to, and an expression of, God's love for each one of us; and that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality; and that holiness in life is particularly required of Christian leaders. In this context; and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention, responsive to the call of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health "to find a non-judgmental occasion to listen and talk," and in the spirit of the Presiding Bishop's statement that "there will be no outcasts in this Church," strongly urge each diocese and congregation to provide opportunities for open dialogue on human sexuality, in which we, as members of this Church, both heterosexual and homosexual, may study, pray, listen to and share our convictions and concerns, our search for stable, loving and committed relationships, and our journey toward wholeness and holiness; and be it further

Resolved, That the accepted sources of authority for Christians, namely Scripture, tradition, reason and experience, supplemented by the 1976, 1979, 1982 and 1985 statements from the General Convention on human sexuality, the resolution adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987, and the 1988 report of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, and ongoing scientific research be commended for use in this dialogue; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese report its finding and experiences to the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health no later than December 1990 and that the Standing Commission evaluate the reports and produce a composite report for presentation to the 70th General Convention.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Detroit, 1988 (New York: General Convention, 1989), p. 296.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Bishops
Originating Committee: Committee on Social and Urban Affairs

House of Bishops

Original Text of Resolution:

(D120)

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That each diocese be strongly urged to design and implement opportunities for open dialogue (rather than debate) which would include discussion of the issues of promiscuity, commitment, intimacy, and relationship at the parish/mission level, in order to achieve a growing understanding of Biblical tradition and the current challenges related to the multiple aspects of human sexuality experienced by married, divorced, widowed, and single adults of all ages.

Proposed Committee Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this Convention, responsive to the call of the Standing Commission on Health and Human Affairs "to find a non-judgmental occasion to listen and talk and to lay aside, for a while, our chronic adversarial posturing" with regard to sexual morality, strongly urge each diocese and congregation to provide opportunities for open dialogue on the subject of human sexuality, in which members of this Church, both heterosexual and homosexual, may study, pray, listen and share their convictions and concerns, their search for stable, loving and committed relationships, and their journey toward wholeness and holiness; and be it further

Resolved, That the resources of Biblical tradition, prayer, contemporary scientific thought, and the 1988 report of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health be commended for use in this dialogue; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese report on its findings and experiences to the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health by no later than December, 1990 and that the Standing Commission evaluate the reports and produce a composite report for presentation to the 70th General Convention.

The Bishop of San Diego moved to substitute.

Proposed Substitute:

Substitute B035 for the Committee's resolution. [The text of 1988-B035 is currently not available.]

The Bishop of Kentucky moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Amend the Bishop of San Diego's substitute by adding "and be it further resolved" plus the text of the Committee's resolution.

The Bishop of Rhode Island moved to re-refer to Committee.

Motion to re-refer defeated

The Bishop of Kentucky withdrew his amendment.

The Bishop of Montana moved to table the matter until a time certain at 10:30 a.m., July 7.

Motion to table defeated

The debate continued on the Bishop of San Diego's proposed substitute for D120.

The Bishop of Ohio moved to amend the Bishop of San Diego's substitute.

Proposed Amendment:

Strike the words "and in particular affirm," and items 1-4.

Add the three resolved clauses of the Committee's resolution.

The Bishop of Maryland moved to further amend.

Proposed Amendment:

Add after the words "each one of us," the following:

"that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, and that holiness of life is particularly required of Christian leaders. In that context, be it further."

The amendment was accepted by the Bishop of Ohio.

The Bishop of West Texas asked that the Bishop of Ohio accept the following friendly amendment to the text of the Committee's resolution:

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the words "Biblical tradition, prayer, contemporary scientific thought" and in their place insert:

"the accepted sources of authority for Christians, namely, Scripture, tradition, reason and experience, as well as the 1979 statements from the General Convention on the matter of human sexuality and the resolution adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987."

The amendment was accepted by all parties.

The Bishop of Rochester moved the previous question on the Bishop of Ohio's amendment.

Motion carried

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Bishop of Ohio's amendment.

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

The House then voted on the Bishop of San Diego's substitute as amended.

Motion carried

The Bishop of Georgia moved an amendment.

Proposed Amendment:

Strike "and to lay aside, for a while, our chronic adversarial posturing."

Motion carried

Amendment adopted

Proposed Substitute for D120s:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 69th General Convention affirm that the Biblical and traditional teaching on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships is a response to, and expression of, God's love for each one of us, and that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, and that holiness of life is particularly required of Christian leaders. In that context, be it further

Resolved, That this Convention, responsive to the call of the Standing Commission on Health and Human Affairs "to find a non-judgmental occasion to listen and talk," strongly urges each diocese and congregation to provide opportunities for open dialogue on the subject of human sexuality, in which members of this Church, both heterosexual and homosexual, may study, pray, listen and share their convictions, and concerns, their search for stable, loving and committed relationships, and their journey toward wholeness and holiness; and be it further

Resolved, That the resources of the accepted sources of authority for Christians, namely, Scripture, tradition, reason and experience, as well as the 1979 statements from the General Convention on the matter of human sexuality, the resolution adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987, and the 1988 report of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, be commended for use in this dialogue; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese report on its findings and experiences to the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health by no later than December, 1990 and that the Standing Commission evaluate the reports and produce a composite report for presentation to the 70th General Convention.

The House then voted on the resolution as [substituted and] amended.

Motion carried

Substitute resolution adopted

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #148)

House of Deputies

The Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #83 on House of Bishops Message #148 relating to Resolution D120s (Local Dialogue on Sexuality Issues) and moved concurrence with amendment by the Committee.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That this 69th General Convention affirm that the biblical and traditional teaching on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships is a response to, and an expression of, God's love for each one of us; and that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality; and that holiness in life is particularly required of Christian leaders. In that this context, be it further

Resolved, That this Convention, responsive to the call of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health "to find a non-judgmental occasion to listen and talk," and in the spirit of the Presiding Bishop's statement that "there will be no outcasts in this Church," strongly urges each diocese and congregation to provide opportunities for open dialogue on the subject of human sexuality, in which members of this Church, both heterosexual and homosexual, may study, pray, listen to and share their convictions and concerns, their search for stable, loving and committed relationships, and their journey toward wholeness and holiness; and be it further

Resolved, That [ the resources of] the accepted sources of authority for Christians, namely Scripture, tradition, reason and experience, as well as supplemented by the 1976, 1979, 1982 and 1985 statements from the General Convention on [ the] matter of human sexuality, the resolution adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987, and the 1988 report of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, and ongoing scientific research be commended for use in this dialogue; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese report its findings and experiences to the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health no later than December 1990 and that the Standing Commission evaluate the reports and produce a composite report for presentation to the 70th General Convention.

Deputy Kendall of New York presented the Minority Report on HB #148 and moved to amend D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

In the third paragraph delete "the resolution adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987."

Debate followed on the amendment.

Deputy Nelson of Dallas moved to suspend the rules to debate the amendment for an additional five minutes.

Motion defeated

Rules not suspended

A vote was taken on the Kendall amendment to D120s.

Motion defeated

Kendall amendment defeated

Deputy King of Newark moved to amend D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

In the second Resolved:

beginning with line six, between the words "in which" and "members," insert the words "we as;" and

substitute the word "our" for the word "their" in the three places in the clause where it subsequently appears.

The Committee accepted the amendment.

Deputy Belser of South Carolina moved a substitute to HB #148 concerning D120s.

Proposed Substitute:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 69th General Convention of the Episcopal Church affirm the following resolution of the November, 1987, General Synod of the Church of England:

"This Synod affirms that the biblical and traditional teaching on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships is a response to, and expression of, God's love for each one of us, and in particular affirms:

  1. that sexual intercourse is an act of total commitment which belongs properly within a permanent marriage relationship;
  2. that fornication and adultery are sins against this ideal, and are to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion;
  3. that homosexual genital acts also fall short of this ideal, and are likewise to be met by a call to repentance and the exercise of compassion;
  4. that all Christians are called to be exemplary in all spheres of morality, including sexual morality, and that holiness of life is particularly required for Christian leaders." and be it further

Resolved, That this Convention, responsive to the call of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, strongly urges each diocese and congregation to provide opportunities for open dialogue on the subject of human sexuality, in which members of this Church may study, pray, listen to, and share their convictions and concerns in light of the accepted sources of authority for Christians, namely, Holy Scripture, tradition and reason; and be it further

Resolved, That the statements on human sexuality of the General Conventions of 1976, 1979, 1982, and 1985, the statement on human sexuality adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in November, 1987, and the 1988 report of the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health, be commended for use in this dialogue; and be it further

Resolved, That each diocese report on its findings and experiences to the Standing Commission on Human Affairs and Health no later than December, 1990, and that the Standing Commission evaluate the reports and produce a composite report for presentation to the 70th General Convention.

A debate followed.

The Diocese of Newark, on behalf of the Dioceses of Newark, New York and Minnesota, requested a vote by orders on the Belser substitute for D120s.

Ballot #9 was taken by orders on the Belser substitute for D120s.

The Secretary announced the results of Ballot #9 on the Belser substitute to D120s.

Lay Yes -29 No -74 Divided -10
Clerical Yes -28 No -75 Divided-11

Motion defeated

Belser substitute defeated

Deputy Habecker of Los Angles moved to amend D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

In the third Resolved, following "1987," add the words "as well as similar statements made by the official bodies of other mainline Protestant Churches in the United States."

Debate followed on the Habecker amendment.

Deputy Maguire of San Diego moved an amendment to the Habecker amendment on D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

Substitute the words "other Christian Churches" for "other mainline Protestant Churches."

Motion defeated

Maquire amendment defeated

A vote was taken on the Habecker amendment to D120s as amended.

Motion defeated

Habecker amendment defeated

Deputy Nelson of Dallas moved an amendment to D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

In the first Resolved, substitute the words "Holy Matrimony" for the words "personal relationships."

Debate followed on the Nelson amendment.

A vote was taken on the Nelson amendment.

Motion defeated

Amendment defeated

Deputy Gaskill of Minnesota moved an amendment to D120s.

Proposed Amendment:

Delete the entire third Resolved.

Deputy Donecker of Central Pennsylvania moved that debate be terminated on both the Gaskill amendment and on D120s.

The question was called.

Motion carried by a two-thirds majority

Debate terminated

A vote was taken on the Gaskill amendment.

Motion defeated

Gaskill amendment defeated

The lay deputations of Southwest Florida, Northern Indiana, Fort Worth and Eau Claire requested a vote by orders on D120s.

Ballot #10 was taken by orders on D120s as amended by the Committee in its Report #83.

The Secretary announced the results of Ballot #10 on D120s:

Lay Yes -105 No -6 Divided -1
Clerical Yes -103 No -5 Divided -6

The House concurred with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #281)

House of Bishops

The Committee on Social and Urban Affairs presented its Report #64 on House of Deputies Message #281 on Resolution D120s (Local Dialogue on Sexuality Issues) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #356)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 10.

Abstract:   The 69th General Convention affirms teachings on chastity and fidelity in personal relationships and urges dioceses and congregations to provide opportunities for open dialogue on human sexuality.