December 6, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In its 113th Annual Diocesan Convention today, the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles joined seven other dioceses in passing a resolution asking the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church to reject the de facto moratorium on the election of gay or lesbian bishops by retracting the General Convention Resolution BO33. And in Bishop Jon Bruno's convention address yesterday, he announced a new diocesan policy on the Sacramental Blessing of Life-Long Covenants, which stated in part, "we believe the same blessing ceremony afforded to men and women should be afforded to same-sex couples" and included a liturgy for blessing approved for use in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

"We are greatly encouraged that the Diocese of Los Angeles has taken such strong steps forward on the full inclusion of the LGBT faithful in the Body of Christ," said the Reverend Susan Russell, president of Integrity and a member of the Task force on Marriage Equality convened by Bishop Bruno to craft the policy and draft the liturgy.

"The Diocese of Los Angeles cannot undo the damage done by BO33 but we stood together to say that we refuse to be party to any further scapegoating of the gay and lesbian baptized. We cannot undo the discrimination written into our constitution by Proposition 8, but we can now officially offer equality in the blessings we offer couples in our congregations and that is a source of great hope and encouragement not only to the church but to the world."

The resolution regarding General Convention was presented by the Los Angeles Deputation to the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church and will be forwarded for consideration at the July 2009 meeting in Anaheim CA. The diocesan policy on blessings was distributed to convention delegates in Riverside and will be available shortly on the Diocese of Los Angeles website.

(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President

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Comments:

Note to self - stay on East side of San Andreas. Better yet, head east and don’t look over your shoulder.

[1] Posted by Doug Stein on 12-07-2008 at 10:23 PM • top

The New New Westminster. The dioceses in Canada who were holding back probably won’t now. So predictable. Rowan’s moratoria bite the dust. As I said at Titus:

It is hard for me not to hold Rowan Williams in very much un-Christian disdain for these all too predictable developments. +Tom Wright had assured us that his friend would send out pre-Lambeth letters stating that acceptance of Lambeth invitations was an agreement to work within Windsor. This was changed to pre-Lambeth phone calls (don’t want a paper trail). Was Bruno’s line busy? Did he refuse to take the call? (“Tell him I’m in the shower.”)

Instead the revisionists get a 10 year pass to carry on.

By the way, wasn’t Rowan suppose to name members of the Panel of Reference Pastoral Forum by the end of October? How pathetic. Don’t talk to me about complex personalities.

[2] Posted by robroy on 12-07-2008 at 10:40 PM • top

So much for Lamebeth constraint. Waiting for the Susan Russell Sopwith Camel flyby…....
Shalom,
Intercessor

[3] Posted by Intercessor on 12-07-2008 at 10:42 PM • top

Oh, I’m sure she will (or has been already), but probably hiding behind an alias.

[4] Posted by mari on 12-07-2008 at 11:17 PM • top

Their timing’s excellent, following the events of December 3rd. Perhaps this will prompt the ABC to comment? Probably not, but I’m glad the Diocese of Los Angeles being crystal clear about where they stand at the same time that the national and international news coverage of the reunification of orthodox Anglicans is happening. Nice underscoring of how unified TEC is following its own resolutions from GC2006.

[5] Posted by Ann McCarthy on 12-07-2008 at 11:19 PM • top

Rowan William, the spiritual, titular, first-among-equals leader of the Anglican Communion is anything but a leader. What else needs to happen in his watch before the head-in-sand multitude calls him what he really is.

The Los Angeles Diocese and other revisionists are boldly saying and doing as they please becuase they know there is no man in the house - sorry in the palace.

With, or without his “approval”, the serious Anglican Christians in North America are getting out of this mad house, and setting up whatever form of Anglican structure that will continue to be faithful to the word of God.
Fr. Kingsley Jon-Ubabuco
Arlington, TX

[6] Posted by Spiro on 12-07-2008 at 11:25 PM • top

Did you miss the part where Bishop Bruno called for the election of two new bishops suffragan in December 2009?

[7] Posted by Susan Russell on 12-08-2008 at 12:00 AM • top

Is that relevant?

[8] Posted by monologistos on 12-08-2008 at 12:21 AM • top

[3] Intercessor wrote:

Waiting for the Susan Russell Sopwith Camel flyby…....

I congratulate you on your foresight. Your patience seems to have been rewarded. Perhaps then we should call her Five O’Clock Suzie.

carl

[9] Posted by carl on 12-08-2008 at 12:22 AM • top

I’ll be interested to hear San Diego Bishop Mathes respond to this. During his public forums following passage of B033, my question to him was whether or not he and his colleagues intended to stick by it. His reply was, “oh yes, most definitely. Rules is rules…” (paraphrasing).

[10] Posted by sandiegoanglicans.com on 12-08-2008 at 12:24 AM • top

This foolishness merely makes Dio LA into an ACNA mission territory.

[11] Posted by Floridian on 12-08-2008 at 03:43 AM • top

So, does this mean that Bruno has abandoned the communion of the Episcopal church by directly going against it’s canons?

Are charges soon to follow?

I’m beginning to wonder who the real bishop of LA is, if you know what I mean.

[12] Posted by Paul B on 12-08-2008 at 04:59 AM • top

Thanks for the news Susan. I’m sure Integrity will put forth a couple simply fabulous candidates.

[13] Posted by Payton on 12-08-2008 at 05:49 AM • top

#11. Actually, I think it was already so defined, at least by +Orombi. I think +Bruno’s decision, at this time, was unfortunate. The left has Newark and LA. The right has Sydney. Both are taking what they deem to be right and prophetic actions.

[14] Posted by EmilyH on 12-08-2008 at 06:20 AM • top

Guys, God is clearly doing a new thing in the diocese of Los Angeles. The folks there are simply being church and living into the inclusiveness of God’s love. We’ll all get a chance to share our story and do some theology. As for same sex marriage, well, that’s complicated, but by embracing the listening process, walking through life’s labyrinth, and living into the reality that there is much pain in the church right now and we have to allow time for healing, we will all be less shellfish.

Did I miss any cliches?

Pessimistic reappraisers see the tomb as half-empty. Optimistic ones see it as half-full.

[15] Posted by Matthew A (formerly mousestalker) on 12-08-2008 at 06:50 AM • top

The bishops and other clergy who do not refute and renounce this publicly and declare impaired communion with the Dio. of LA are complicit and of one spirit with this.

[16] Posted by Floridian on 12-08-2008 at 07:27 AM • top

“Did I miss any cliches?”

C’mon, Mousetalker! What about “standing in a crucified place”?!?

I don’t mind the additional clarity. The moratoria are dead. Rowan still hasn’t named anyone to the <s>Panel of Reference</s> Pastoral Forum. Can we now officially say that Lambeth was a failure? How about we all go back and read the Lambeth Reflections document a couple more times?

[17] Posted by robroy on 12-08-2008 at 07:57 AM • top

I congratulate the Dio of LA as well as Bishop Jon Bruno!

[18] Posted by JohnQ on 12-08-2008 at 08:05 AM • top

Too bad they have to be behind the DioMO in the timeline. That’s gotta hurt, being behind flyover country and all.
Still, the “We aren’t Anglican” message comes out loud and clear. Somebody turn up the ABC’s hearing aids.

[19] Posted by dwstroudmd on 12-08-2008 at 08:09 AM • top

No, they’ll just keep sham indaba-ing along. Under Rowan Williams, Lambeth’s “listen"ing process is a one way street.

I can’t help but wonder what will happen when the radical far left agenda the PB serves, is normalized, and her activist homosexual friends learn that they have been used, and are powerless against those she’s helped empowered, who will treat them as their peers in the Islamic world are treated.. not with Christian love and charity, but with something altogether different.

[20] Posted by mari on 12-08-2008 at 08:28 AM • top

This sounds more like a letter of renunciation to me.

Moratoria, Schoritoria…

[21] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 12-08-2008 at 08:49 AM • top

“Guys, God is clearly doing a new thing in the diocese of Los Angeles.”

Mousetalker…..No! It’s more like A god is doing something new in Los Angeles and in San Fransisco!” And I think that that “god” is clearly sex and unnatural sexual behavior! They are redefining the word of God and are inline to take the bible and re-write it to fit their perverted needs and affirm their sins and call it good! Reminds me very much of those who worshiped Baal in Old Testament days….so really there is nothing new under the sun save the people and the century and the ungodly thing they worship.

[22] Posted by TLDillon on 12-08-2008 at 10:28 AM • top

mari-
“I can’t help but wonder what will happen when the radical far left agenda the PB serves, is normalized, and her activist homosexual friends learn that they have been used, and are powerless against those she’s helped empowered, who will treat them as their peers in the Islamic world are treated.. not with Christian love and charity, but with something altogether different. ”

The current direction of TEC started before our current PB. You seem to suggest that this is something recent and/or led by 815. We have been moving towards a better understanding of our Lord’s teachings for years and years.

I am not sure what you mean by “nomalized”.

[23] Posted by JohnQ on 12-08-2008 at 12:12 PM • top

So, does this mean those 7 dioceses are going to be leaving TEC anytime soon? After all, they are in clear disagreement with the Canons, if Bruno supports them, he has left the Church just as surely as Duncan or Iker, right?

So get going L.A.!!! Time to strike out on your own. You don’t want to be held back by those wonks at 815, they are SOOOOOO behind the times. Get! Go! Hit the Road! I’m sure the Church of Amsterdam will affiliate with you!

PHIPS!!!!....

KTF!...mrb

[24] Posted by Mike Bertaut on 12-08-2008 at 03:47 PM • top

I’m shocked! No, not really ...

[25] Posted by martin5 on 12-08-2008 at 05:05 PM • top

The fifth diocese to break away from TEC.

[26] Posted by Seen-Too-Much on 12-08-2008 at 09:36 PM • top

LA is not breaking away from TEC.

[27] Posted by JohnQ on 12-08-2008 at 11:48 PM • top

Welcome to the future of TEO. Broken promises and no hope. Mandated SSB is coming to a TEO congregation in your neighborhood! Thanks Susan for sharing. More sadness. Could we get a statement from ACI on how they plan to reform and renew Integrity and the radical left? We wish you well in your efforts.

[28] Posted by Dallas Priest on 12-09-2008 at 07:34 AM • top

27 John Q, but I disagree. ABC Williams issued two moratoria, one on SSB and one on border crossing. The dio’s that left the church to affiliate with a “border crossing” church had their bishop’s deposed.

How is it then, that Bruno, who is now clearly in violation of RW’s moratoria (just for supporting and allowing the vote; see: Pittsburgh) not being deposed??

I expect action to begin today. Bring out BeerKat! Bring out the PHIPS! By his very actions, Bruno has deposed HIMSELF (see: Iker)! and I expect TEC to immediately sue to have all the property in the Dio of LA secured under BeerKat rule immediately!!

Let’s go. Come on. Hello? Anyone? Bueller?

So you see, my friends, the abject and blatant hypocrisy that has become TEC. Bruno is every bit as guilty of breaking communion as Iker, Duncan, Schofield, yet magically, because his opinions happen to jibe with BeerKat and the PHIPS, we’ll let him slide.

And they have the nerve to call it “Integrity”.

Heh. (with apologies to Sarah Hey).

KTF!...mrb

[29] Posted by Mike Bertaut on 12-09-2008 at 09:02 AM • top

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