Damn the Windsor Resolutions, Full Speed Ahead [TEC hypocrisy]

Midwest Conservative Journal ^ | 6/23/2006 | Christopher Johnson

[sionnsar]

Matt Kennedy finds out what ECUSA really thinks about same-sex marriages:

For two weeks now, we’ve been focused rather myopically on B033 and the other Windsor related resolutions.

In fact, after the final vote on B033 Wednesday afternoon, most press organizations, Stand Firm included, packed up and headed home.

But there were several hours of legislative action still to go. During that time a number of resolutions were passed through the HOD without attention or debate.

One of those resolutions was resolution A095, which reads in its final form:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the Episcopal Church’s historical support of gay and lesbian persons as children of God and entitled to full civil rights; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention reaffirm the 71st General Convention’s action calling upon “municipal council, state legislatures and the United States Congress to approve measures giving gay and lesbian couples protection[s] such as: bereavement and family leave policies; health benefits; pension benefits; real-estate transfer tax benefits; and commitments to mutual support enjoyed by non-gay married couples”; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention oppose any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex civil marriage or civil unions. 

Logically speaking the language does not, in fact, commit the Episcopal Church to actively support civil unions.

It does, however, commit the Church to actively oppose any move to limit or stop them.

So that's why same-sex marriage was left out of B033.  Matt also uncovered this lovely bit of Episcopal hypocrisy:

Pay special attention to the word “commit” in the resolution below and compare it with the action words of the substitute motion moved by Chris Contrell+ and ruled out of order by the House of Deputies’ Parliamentarian.

The substitute motion was ruled out of order because, according to the Parliamentarian, General Convention has no power or authority to “effect a moratorium” on anything in the church, much less in individual dioceses. We are, after all, a “democratic” church.

And yet, take a look at Resolution D047:

Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th General Convention support actively the right of workers to form a union, and increase the support in our cities and states for passage of “living wage” legislation; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention commit the Church at all levels to contract solely with union hotels in its meetings, or to obtain confirmation that local prevailing “living wages” are paid by all hotels the Church uses; and be it further

Resolved, That the 75th General Convention strongly urge the Church Center staff and especially the General Convention Planning Office to assure that dioceses that host events of The Episcopal Church comply with GC2003-A130 and provide a living wage for their employees; and be it further

Resolved, That we commend to the Church at all levels the services of Informed Meetings Exchange (http://www.inmex.org), a new non-profit agency committed to helping organizations make informed decisions regarding convention and meeting planning.

So while it remains a constitutional impossibility to “effect” the Windsor moratoria , when it comes to “living wages” General Convention suddenly has the authority and potency to “commit” the whole church “at all levels” to contract with union hotels or hotels.

You'd think it would be hard to pass a resolution like this one with a straight face.  But I guess when you're not a Christian church anymore, you can do this sort of thing in your sleep.

[sionnsar]

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[Huber]

So while it remains a constitutional impossibility to “effect” the Windsor moratoria , when it comes to “living wages” General Convention suddenly has the authority and potency to “commit” the whole church “at all levels” to contract with union hotels or hotels.

(speechless...while jaw drops.)