Claiming the
Blessing Platform
A Proclamation
for the Episcopal Church
The Claiming the Blessing (CTB)
Steering Committee is an all-volunteer committee representing a broad
constituency of progressive Episcopal voices. Members are LGBT and
straight, lay and ordained, old and young -- all with a deep love of
The Episcopal Church and a firm commitment to classic Anglicanism.
As baptized Christians, we
commit our lives to:
·
the
celebration of the goodness of all creatures and creation as given to
us by God;
·
our
relationship with Jesus the Christ;
·
the
discernment of truth as revealed in Holy Scripture and the work of the
Spirit;
·
the
indivisibility of spirituality, prayer and politics as modeled by the
prophets and apostles;
·
peace
with justice as proclaimed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.;
·
truth
and reconciliation as articulated by Archbishop Desmond Tutu;
·
the
vision of the Beloved Community as revealed in the table fellowship of
Jesus.
We come to the 2006 General Convention
in
Therefore, we call
the Church to:
·
Work
for full civil marriage equality.
·
Clarify
our theology of marriage, family and human sexuality.
·
Oppose
the limitation of adoption and other civil contracts on the basis of
sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity and expression.
·
Study
the role of clergy as civil magistrates in marriage.
·
Reaffirm
the sacredness of long-term committed relationships, as articulated in
D039? We expect such
relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual
affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love
which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the
image of God. (GC 2000)
·
Authorize
the development of liturgical rites of blessings where civil marriage,
civil unions and domestic partnerships are a reality, and elsewhere.
·
Support
universal domestic partnership benefits.
·
Affirm
human rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people
worldwide.
·
Work
for an end to the violence against LGBT people throughout the global
village.
·
Engage
the international community in a listening process which includes the
active voices and full presence of LGBT people.
·
Embrace
a theology of abundance; reject the theology of scarcity, fear and
scapegoating; and commit ourselves to proclaim and live the good news
of Christ Jesus.
·
Reaffirm
that all orders of ministry are open to all the Baptized who are
otherwise qualified.
·
Establish
as church policy the commitment not to meet in those places where
justice and liberation for all God?s children, including LGBT people,
are absent in state law or local ordinance.
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