A092 Access to ordination and deployment
The non-discrimination provisions of Canon III.1.2 have not been sufficient to end the perception, and often the reality, of discrimination within the discernment and employment processes of The Episcopal Church. The prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation or marital status is undermined in its effect insofar as it remains licit to discriminate in these protected processes on the basis of one’s theological belief concerning same-sex marriage. Furthermore, we see no legitimate practical or pastoral benefit to denying access to these discernment processes on the basis of the belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. If a congregation wishes to hire or discern a call to ordination with an individual who is otherwise qualified, they should not be prevented from doing so on the grounds of a mismatch between that individual’s theological belief about same-sex marriage and the theological belief of the bishop or their diocese. Section 3 would ensure genuine access to discernment processes for hiring and ordination while also providing for cases in which a bishop is unable, as a matter of conscience, to ordain someone whose theological belief regarding same-sex marriage is incompatible with their own.
Section 4 is a logical extension of Section 3. While Canon III.9.4.d provides that a priest’s letters dimissory must be accepted in the absence of information “which would form grounds for canonical inquiry and proceedings under Title IV” and that letters dimissory cannot be refused “based on the applicant’s race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or age,” this section applies only in cases where a priest has been “called to a Cure.” We do not believe that a member of the clergy’s theology concerning same-sex marriage, whether for or against, constitutes legitimate grounds for canonical inquiry under Title IV. We also believe that all members of the clergy should have equal access to the process for establishing canonical residency in a diocese regardless of their beliefs concerning same-sex marriage, not only those to whom the provisions of III.9.4.d apply.
This resolution does not create or imply any right to canonical residence or licensing. It simply requires that the letters dimissory of all members of the clergy should be processed without any distinction based in their theological belief concerning same-sex marriage.
Explanation
The non-discrimination provisions of Canon III.1.2 have not been sufficient to end the perception, and often the reality, of discrimination within the discernment and employment processes of The Episcopal Church. The prohibition on discrimination based on sexual orientation or marital status is undermined in its effect insofar as it remains licit to discriminate in these protected processes on the basis of one’s theological belief concerning same-sex marriage. Furthermore, we see no legitimate practical or pastoral benefit to denying access to these discernment processes on the basis of the belief that marriage is a covenant between a man and a woman. If a congregation wishes to hire or discern a call to ordination with an individual who is otherwise qualified, they should not be prevented from doing so on the grounds of a mismatch between that individual’s theological belief about same-sex marriage and the theological belief of the bishop or their diocese. Section 3 would ensure genuine access to discernment processes for hiring and ordination while also providing for cases in which a bishop is unable, as a matter of conscience, to ordain someone whose theological belief regarding same-sex marriage is incompatible with their own.
Section 4 is a logical extension of Section 3. While Canon III.9.4.d provides that a priest’s letters dimissory must be accepted in the absence of information “which would form grounds for canonical inquiry and proceedings under Title IV” and that letters dimissory cannot be refused “based on the applicant’s race, color, ethnic origin, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities, or age,” this section applies only in cases where a priest has been “called to a Cure.” We do not believe that a member of the clergy’s theology concerning same-sex marriage, whether for or against, constitutes legitimate grounds for canonical inquiry under Title IV. We also believe that all members of the clergy should have equal access to the process for establishing canonical residency in a diocese regardless of their beliefs concerning same-sex marriage, not only those to whom the provisions of III.9.4.d apply.
This resolution does not create or imply any right to canonical residence or licensing. It simply requires that the letters dimissory of all members of the clergy should be processed without any distinction based in their theological belief concerning same-sex marriage.