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In a push to strengthen support for gay and lesbian persons, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California has initiated a process to move toward equality of marriage rites for same-sex couples.
The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus released a pastoral letter on Monday urging clergy to encourage all couples, including homosexual ones, to first be married in a secular service and then seek the blessing of The Episcopal Church as the California diocese works for the "full inclusion" of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) people.
"The Diocese of California seeks to provide, by advocacy and example, a way forward for The Episcopal Church so that the marriage of same-sex couples will be a part of our official marriage rites, without distinction," Andrus wrote.
The Episcopal Church pledged last September not to authorize public rites of the blessing of same-sex unions, at least not until a broader consensus emerges in the global Anglican Communion – of which The Episcopal Church is the U.S. arm – or until the Episcopal General Convention takes further action. Conservative bishops, however, have criticized the U.S. body's response, claiming that same-sex blessings would continue in the dioceses that already engage in them.
Despite the pledge, leaders of the U.S. body, including its head, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, called for "unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety, and dignity of gay and lesbian persons."
"Although The Episcopal Church does not have canonical rites for same-sex marriage, it is our goal that all couples be treated equally by the Church, as they are equally loved by God," Andrus said in his letter.
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The California bishop said he is currently in the process of arriving at a "more studied, permanent answer for Episcopal clergy presiding at same-sex marriages in this diocese." The process includes forming a panel of diocesan clergy to make recommendations about how to move toward equality of marriage rites for all people and ultimately forming an official diocesan policy.
According to Andrus, the Diocese of California has been working for the rights of LGBT people for more than 40 years. Continuing the battle, Andrus said he will publicly state his opposition to a Nov. 4 ballot initiative that would overturn last month's California Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex "marriage," volunteer to preside at the thousands of same-sex "marriages" planned this summer, and publish advertising celebrating the high court's decision.
The ads would also invite same-sex couples to churches within the diocese for pre-marital counseling.
Meanwhile, many Christians and pro-family groups across the state have vowed to fight the ruling and vote in support of the November initiative to preserve traditional marriage.
