Episcopal Clergy to Bless Gay and Lesbian Unions

Chester Talton, an Episcopal bishop in San Joaquin, California has told clergy they may bless “same-gender civil marriages, domestic partnerships and relationships which are lifelong committed relationships characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect [and] careful, honest communication," reports The Christian Post. 

The clergy cannot actually perform same-sex marriages, however, “until such time as both the Canons and state law permit the solemnization of the marriage of a same gender couple, and specific authorization of the bishop is given,” Talton said.

Bishop J. Neil Alexander, who leads the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, which includes some 55,000 members in 96 congregations in Middle and North Georgia, told Northeast Cobb Patch, “The Episcopal Church’s General Convention has not approved rites for same-sex blessings, although it has encouraged bishops and clergy to give appropriate pastoral care to gay and lesbian people. In the Episcopal Church our pastoral care is ritually rooted. This is why liturgies exist for various circumstances, such as ministering to the sick and taking communion to people in the hospital.”

Reverend Paul McCabe, Rector at the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation, said, "Bishop Talton has not deviated from what we are already doing in the Episcopal Church, that is to say, he has not advocated liturgy for same sex marriages, he has only stated that priests may bless individuals who are in same sex civil unions. Blessings then, are prayers for individuals who are seeking pastoral responses to their relationships and relationships they may be involved in. Prayers for all of God’s children is what we are called to do, prayers which means we don’t pick and choose who deserves them or not."

McCabe told Northeast Cobb Patch that bishop’s give their priest pastoral advice in many situations and this seems to be another time that bishop Talton is responding to legislation in California that allows for same sex civil marriages.

"If you believe his gesture goes beyond the scope of The Episcopal Church General convention, which still has not voted on a marriage liturgy for same sex unions, then I would be interested on your findings of such. Until the General convention votes on a liturgy for same sex unions, then no church is “officially” sanctioning such. I am also not naïve enough to believe that it is not happening on some level in churches across the USA, but that is where “unofficially” sanctioning of such liturgies is addressed wherever it needs to be," he said.

McCabe has not been asked to bless any same sex civil unions as such, but if the matter came before him, he would pray for anybody that asked for prayers, he said.