Resolution Number: | 2015-A037 |
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Title: | Appoint an Expanded Task Force on the Study of Marriage |
Legislative Action Taken: | Concurred as Amended |
Final Text: |
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention requests dioceses and parishes use the study materials on marriage provided in the last triennium by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage, namely the “Dearly Beloved” toolkit and the appended essays in their Blue Book report to this Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the 78th General Convention directs the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies to appoint jointly an expanded Task Force on the Study of Marriage to continue this work, consisting of not more than 15 people, including theologians, ethicists, pastors, liturgists, and educators, who represent the cultural and theological diversity in the Church; membership should include some of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage appointed in 2012, some from dioceses outside the United States, and young adults; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore further those contemporary trends and norms identified by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage in the previous triennium, specifically regarding those who choose to remain single; unmarried persons in intimate relationships; couples who cohabitate either in preparation for, or as an alternative to, marriage; couples who desire a blessing from the Church but not marriage; parenting by single or and/or unmarried persons; differing forms of family and household such as those including same-sex parenting, adoption, and racial diversity; and differences in marriage patterns between ethnic and racial groups; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force consult with (i) individuals and couples within these groups about their experience of faith and church life; and (ii) the results of diocesan and parochial study of "Dearly Beloved" toolkit; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore biblical, theological, moral, liturgical, cultural, and pastoral perspectives on these matters, and develop written materials about them which represent the spectrum of understanding in our Church and which include responses from theologians, ethicists, pastors, liturgists, social scientists, and educators who are not members of the expanded Task Force, and whose perspectives represent the spectrum of understandings on these matters in our Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force study and monitor, in consultation with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the impact of same-sex marriage and rites of blessing on our Church; the continuing debate about clergy acting as agents of the state in officiating at marriages; and any other matters related to marriage by action of or referral by this Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force report and make recommendations to the 79th General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force provide educational and pastoral resources for congregational use on these matters that represents the spectrum of understandings on these matters in our Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $90,000 for the implementation of this resolution.
Citation: | General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Salt Lake City, 2015 (New York: General Convention, 2015), pp. 702-704. |
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Legislative History
Author: | A050 Task Force on the Study of Marriage |
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Originating House: | House of Bishops |
Originating Committee: | Special Legislative Committee on Marriage |
House of Bishops
The House of Bishops Special Legislative Committee on Marriage presented its Report #1 on Resolution A037 (Continue Work of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage) and moved adoption with amendment.
Original Text of Resolution:
(A037)
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General Convention commends diocesan and parish use of the study materials on marriage provided in the last triennium by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage, namely the “Dearly Beloved” toolkit and the appended essays in their Blue Book report to this Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That this Convention directs the Presiding Bishop and President of the House of Deputies to appoint an expanded Task Force on the Study of Marriage to continue this work, consisting of not more than 15 people, including theologians, ethicists, pastors, liturgists, and educators; membership should include some of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage appointed in 2012, some from dioceses outside the United States, and young adults; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore further those contemporary trends and norms identified by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage in the previous triennium, specifically regarding those who choose to remain single; unmarried persons in intimate relationships; couples who cohabitate either in preparation for, or as an alternative to, marriage; couples who desire a blessing from the Church but not marriage; parenting by single or and/or unmarried persons; differing forms of family and household such as those including same-sex parenting, adoption, and racial diversity; and differences in marriage patterns between ethnic and racial groups, and between provinces inside and outside the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force consult with individuals and couples within these groups about their experience of faith and church life; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore biblical, theological, moral, liturgical, and pastoral perspectives on these matters, and develop written materials about them; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force study and monitor, in coordination with the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music, the impact of same-sex marriage and rites of blessing on our Church; the continuing debate about clergy acting as agents of the state in officiating at marriages; and any other matters related to marriage by action of or referral by this Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force report and make recommendations to the 79th General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force provide an educational and pastoral resource for congregational use on these matters; and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention request the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a budget allocation of $45,000 for the implementation of this resolution.
Committee Amendment:
Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 78th General
Convention commendsrequests
diocesandioceses and parishes use
of the study materials on marriage provided in the last
triennium by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage, namely the “Dearly
Beloved” toolkit and the appended essays in their Blue Book report to this
Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That thisthe 78th
General Convention directs the Presiding Bishop and President of the House
of Deputies to appoint jointly an expanded Task Force on the Study of
Marriage to continue this work, consisting of not more than 15 people,
including theologians, ethicists, pastors, liturgists, and educators, who
represent the cultural and theological diversity in the Church; membership
should include some of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage appointed in
2012, some from dioceses outside the United States, and young adults; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore further those contemporary
trends and norms identified by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage in the
previous triennium, specifically regarding those who choose to remain single;
unmarried persons in intimate relationships; couples who cohabitate either in
preparation for, or as an alternative to, marriage; couples who desire a
blessing from the Church but not marriage; parenting by single or and/or
unmarried persons; differing forms of family and household such as those
including same-sex parenting, adoption, and racial diversity; and differences
in marriage patterns between ethnic and racial groups, and between
provinces inside and outside the United States; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force consult with (i) individuals and couples within these groups about their experience of faith and church life; and (ii) the results of diocesan and parochial study of "Dearly Beloved" toolkit; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force explore biblical, theological, moral, liturgical, cultural, and pastoral perspectives on these matters, and develop written materials about them which represent the spectrum of understanding in our Church and which include responses from theologians, ethicists, pastors, liturgists, social scientists, and educators who are not members of the expanded Task Force, and whose perspectives represent the spectrum of understandings on these matters in our Church; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force study and monitor, in
coordinationconsultation with the Standing Commission
on Liturgy and Music, the impact of same-sex marriage and rites of blessing on
our Church; the continuing debate about clergy acting as agents of the state in
officiating at marriages; and any other matters related to marriage by action
of or referral by this Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force report and make recommendations to the 79th General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, That the Task Force provide an educational
and pastoral resources for congregational use on these matters that
represents the spectrum of understandings on these matters in our Church;
and be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention request
the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance to consider a
budget allocation of $45,000$90,000 for the
implementation of this resolution.
Motion carried
Resolution adopted with amendment
(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #44)
House of Deputies
The President called on the House of Deputies Special Legislative Committee on Marriage to present its Report #1 on HB Message #44 on Resolution A037 (Continue Work of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage). The Chair of The House of Deputies Special Legislative Committee on Marriage was not present. The President made a motion to move to the next item of business.
Motion carried
The House of Deputies Special Legislative Committee on Marriage presented its Report #1 on HB Message #44 on Resolution A037 (Continue Work of the Task Force on the Study of Marriage) and moved concurrence.
Deputy Yarbrough of Texas moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Add after the sixth Resolve:
Resolved, That the Task Force consult with other churches in the Anglican Communion and with our ecumenical partners; and be it further
Deputy King of Western New York moved to end debate on the amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the amendment.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Deputy Collum of Albany moved to amend the resolution.
Proposed Amendment:
Amend the seventh Resolve to read:
Resolved, That the Task Force
reportproduce a report, including a
minority report, and make recommendations to the 79th General
Convention; and be it further
Point of Order
Deputy Medina of Nebraska inquired as to whether a task force could be tasked with producing a minority report. The Parliamentarian directed the House to Joint Rule 9, which has no prohibition on a task force including a minority report with their report.
Deputy Garner of Alabama moved to end debate on the amendment.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the amendment.
Motion defeated
Amendment defeated
Deputy Hart of Pennsylvania moved to end debate on the resolution.
Motion carried
Debate terminated
A vote was taken on the resolution.
Motion carried
The House concurred
(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #120)
Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, June 29.
Report Reference: | Task Force on the Study of Marriage, Reports to the 78th General Convention, 2015, pp. 483-604. |
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Abstract: | The 78th General Convention explore and report on further contemporary trends and norms identified by the previous Task Force in "Dearly Beloved," including theological, liturgical, and pastoral perspectives on single individuals, unmarried couples, and different forms of family relationship. |