D066 Creating a Task Force for Truth-Telling, Reckoning and Reconciliation for LGBTQIA+
Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring,
That The Episcopal Church recognize, repent, and atone for the harm it has caused to LGBTQIA+ people through actions, participation and support of homophobic/heterosexist and shaming cultures and systems; and be it further
Resolved, That the Episcopal Church recognize, repent, and atone for the ways that these actions, positions, and for participating in limiting the ability of The Church’s people to fully manifest the love of God and live into their baptismal covenants, sharing their gifts and authentic selves fully with the church and the world; and be it further
Resolved, That, as a result of these actions, a group of the ordained and laity within the church have been dissuaded of their calling and biased in their ordination processes. Some ordained and lay have been forced to remain closeted, and others still were deposed from ministry; and be it further
Resolved, that the 81st General Convention authorize the establishment of a Task Force for Truth-Telling, Reckoning, and Reconciliation for LGBTQIA+ for the purpose of helping the Church engage in truth-telling, confession, and reconciliation regarding discrimination, harassment, violence, and all harmful behaviors against LGBTQIA+ in all their forms including but not limited to those who were deposed from ministry, barred from discernment/ordination processes and excluded from full participation of all ministry of the baptized by those in power within the Church; and be it further
Resolved, That this Task Force be appointed jointly by the President of the House of Deputies and the Presiding Bishop in collaboration and consultation with the Gender Justice Officer, be composed of 12 members - 5 lay people (at least 4 of whom identify as LGBTQIA+), 4 priests or deacons members (at least 3 of whom identify as LGBTQIA+), and 3 bishops members (preferably at least 2 of whom identify as LGBTQIA+). The overall composition of this task force shall include people of color and reflect regional diversity. The overall composition of this task force shall include at least 5 members who have experienced LGBTQIA+ discrimination, harassment, and or violence and including experts in church jurisprudence and psychology; and be it further
Resolved, This Task Force shall report its progress to the 82nd General Convention on the following tasks:
- To develop a survey on discrimination, harassment, and violence against LGBTQIA+ in all their forms (truth-telling and reckoning) as we understand these sins, including but not limited to spiritual, and emotionally abusive behavior, and oppression based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. This survey should be distributed widely in the Episcopal Church for access by both laity and clergy no later than spring of 2025, said survey being available primarily on-line, and with adaptations made as determined by the task force to enable responses by those members of the general Church who may not have ready and easy access to the internet;
- To conduct a review of survey responses and data regarding discrimination, harassment, and violent behavior that has been experienced by those who identify as LGBTQIA+ and the impact of this treatment on lay and ordained persons, their ministries, and the ministry of The Episcopal Church;
- To create a Truth and Reconciliation process to guide churches, dioceses, provinces, and churchwide as they develop their own paths for reconciliation and restoration; recognizing a one-size-fits-all process will not be helpful given the diversity of our Church, and to plan a service of Lament, Apology and Reconciliation at the 82ndGeneral Convention which serves as a liturgical model to be used across The Episcopal Church and beyond.
And be it further
Resolved, That the General Convention request that Executive Council allocate $60,000 for the implementation of this resolution.
Explanation
The Episcopal Church has taken many steps over the course of the last fifty years to include LGBTQIA+ people as full and equal members, with full access to community, to the sacraments and to holy orders. In 1976, both houses of the GC acknowledged “homosexual persons are children of God and have a full and equal claim… upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the church.” In 1994, “sexual orientation” received non-discrimination status in the canons for ordination. In 2003, the ordination of Gene Robinson was the first consecration of an openly gay bishop. In 2009, the GC passed a resolution confirming equal access to the episcopate for LGBTQ+ people. In 2012, the General Convention passed a resolution clearing the path to ordination for transgender individuals. In 2015 and 2018, steps were taken that approved the administration of the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples. A great deal has been accomplished to promote and to secure the full participation and protection of the rights and lives of the LGBTQIA+ members of The Episcopal Church. (https://www.hrc.org/resources/stances-of-faiths-on-lgbt-issues-episcopal-church)
These accomplishments notwithstanding, there continue to be struggles within the church to fully embrace and to behave according to these canonical changes. Biases against LGBTQIA+ people have deep roots, are connected to socioeconomic forces, are part of larger systems of discrimination that continue to subjugate, to sideline, and to diminish the lives and the offerings of people across the breadth of The Episcopal Church. We, as a church, have collectively taken a stance against such practices and beliefs. These changes we have made have changed and saved lives.
Lives have been changed but our work is not done. It continues to be, for example, that LGBTQIA+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Although full access to the sacraments has been written into our canons, this is not true in all of our churches. There is more work to be done as these underlying dynamics continue to affect the lives of LGBTQIA+ people seeking to walk in love as full and equal members of our congregations.
In addition to the impact of current dynamics that contribute to depression and isolation and limit the manifestation of God’s realm on earth, we are also living under the shadow of the past that we have sought to correct. Prior to the passing of each of the aforementioned resolutions, people were suffering under the conditions that these resolutions were designed to correct. The very lives of LGBTQIA+ people who were called to ordination were threatened with violence and death. People were forced to sequester and to hide their identities for fear of retaliation or discrimination. Others who did disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity and were ordained faced Title IV processes and deposition of ministry, solely because of their sexual orientation and or gender.
Psychological theory is replete with examples of how the past influences the present and future. Without addressing previous injury, its threats and implicit sanctions remain present. We can make assumptions about our collective responses to that which has been done and undone but without directly and overtly addressing this, we are left to question the veracity of current reforms. The shadows of our previous actions, when unaddressed, remain, as a trauma in a family that is never discussed. We are called to shine light into darkness and offer God’s healing, restorative love.
This resolution addresses our previous missteps and injuries. By acknowledging the harm previously foisted upon members of our LGBTQIA+ community, we invite the conversation and truth telling that ultimately has the power to lead to healing. By naming our offenses, we can begin to understand, to uncover, and to correct the dynamics that perpetuated them in the first place and to create the perspective to identify them in their present forms. By reaching out to those whose ministries were cut short, we acknowledge their callings and offer healing love. For those who are now deceased, we amend the narratives of their histories and work to restore the legacies of their holy callings. All in all, by addressing and speaking what has been silent and avoided, by passing this resolution, we speak the truth and work to repair, to heal, and to respect the dignity of all people.