* FINAL VERSION - Concurred
Resolution A167
Title: "Full and Equal Claim" for All the Baptized
Topic: Justice
Committee: 10. Social and Urban Affairs
House of Initial Action: Bishops
Proposer: Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion
Resolved
, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention of The Episcopal Church reaffirm that gay and lesbian persons are by Baptism full members of the Body of Christ and of The Episcopal Church as “children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church” (GC 1976-A069); and be it further
Resolved
, That the 75th General Convention reiterate its apology “on behalf of The Episcopal Church to its members who are gay or lesbian, and to lesbians and gay men outside the Church, for years of rejection and maltreatment by the Church,” and recommit to “seek amendment of our life together as we ask God’s help in sharing the Good News with all people” (GC1997-D011); and be it further
Resolved,
That, in evidence of that apology, The Episcopal Church pledge to include openly gay and lesbian persons on every committee, commission or task force developed for the specific purpose of discussing issues about sexuality and request the same of our sister churches in the Anglican Communion and Anglican Communion bodies; and be it further
Resolved
, That the 75th General Convention reiterate that “our baptism into Jesus Christ is inseparable from our communion with one another, and we commit ourselves to that communion despite our diversity of opinion and, among dioceses, a diversity of pastoral practice with the gay men and lesbians among us” (GC2003–C051).
EXPLANATION
This resolution firmly articulates that the Episcopal Church is not backing away from its prior commitments against discrimination, and for the dignity of and justice for all people. The resolution does not provide an exhaustive catalogue of such commitments or of the church's teaching on matters of human sexuality, but rather offers clarity regarding our church's ongoing intention to ground our relationship with one another firmly within our Baptismal Covenant as members of one Body of Christ.
* Resolution is final but status and text are still under review before publication.