Approximately 30 lay and ordained persons, including seminarians, gathered at Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, Calif., April 9-10, for open discussion of blessing same-sex unions. The forum was facilitated by the Rev. Edwin Bacon, rector of All Saints' Church, Pasadena, Calif., and the Rev. Kathleen J. Van Sickle, deacon-in-charge of Good Shepherd, Berkeley, Calif.

The gathering divided into working groups for discussions. Concerns varied widely. Most participants stressed the importance of including everyone in parish life and the life of the larger church, even in the midst of disagreements that are divisive and sometimes painful. Others expressed concerns about how many people would leave the church if it said yes to same-sex unions, and noted that the church should consider pastoral care strategies for those who would wish to leave in that case.

Groups explored pastoral care for same-sex couples and their local parishes, recognizing that periods of significant change require communities to support each other in new ways. Some attendees wondered if pre-blessing counseling for same-sex couples would be different from that for heterosexual couples, or how the church would approach ministering to children parented by same-gender couples.

Groups also investigated questions of the institution of marriage itself. Some participants wondered if the church should get out of the marriage "business" altogether, perhaps letting relationships be blessed in the church and placing legal issues in the hands of civil authorities.

No formal statement resulted from the discussion. It was apparent, though, that education and pastoral care of all concerned were of primary importance to try to minimize further division while moving forward in debate.

The main message was that regardless of persons' positions on this issue, they must remain in dialogue with one another.