A167 - Justice: "Full and Equal Claim" for All the Baptized

Resolved, the House of _____ 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 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).

Title: "Full and Equal Claim" for All the Baptized

Topic:

Committee: Social and Urban Affairs

House of Initial Action: Bishops

Proposer: Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion

EXPLANATION