At
a press conference on Wednesday, September 10, the Rt Rev Marc
Handley Andrus and the Rt Rev Steven Charleston, both of the
Diocese of California, and the Rt Rev Barry L Beisner, of the
Diocese of Northern California, stood together on the steps of
Grace Cathedral in San Francisco to show their support for
same-sex marriage and denounce Proposition 8.
Beisner stated that it was a matter of "fundamental fairness to
allow all couples to have accees to civil marriage in the state of
California." Charleston, a Native American of the Choctaw Nation,
said as a person of color that the equality recognized by the
California Supreme Court "resonates deeply like a bell of freedom."
Andrus said, "Living like Jesus means standing in solidarity with
the marginalized of our world. For me, voting no on Proposition 8 is
a way I can stand in solidarity with the marginalized, in this case
with LGBT brothers and sisters, and continue my journey with
Christ."
A similar press conference was held the same day at the Cathedral
Center of St. Paul in Los Angeles by the Rt. Rev. Jon Bruno. The six
Episcopal diocesan bishops in California issued a joint statement
that "We believe that continued access to civil marriage for all,
regardeless of sexual orientation, is consistent with the best
priniciples of our constitutional rights. We believe that this
continued access promotes Jesus' ethic of love, giving, and hope."
The full text of the statement follows.
Statement on Proposition 8 by the Episcopal Diocesan
Bishops of California
As Episcopal Bishops of California, we are moved to urge voters to
vote “No” on Proposition 8. Jesus calls us to love rather than
hate, to give rather than to receive, to live into hope rather than
fear. On Tuesday, November 4th, voters in California will be given
the opportunity to vote for or against Proposition 8, which would
amend the state’s constitution to reserve marriage as only between a
man and a woman. Since the California Supreme Court’s ruling in May
that civil marriage should be provided to all of the state’s
citizens whether the genders of the couple are different or the
same, faithful gays and lesbians have entered into marriage as the
principle way in which they show their love, devotion and life-long
commitment to each other. Furthermore, marriage provides these
couples the same legal rights and protections that heterosexual
couples take for granted.
Proposition 8 would reverse the court’s decision and withdraw a
right given. Proponents of Proposition 8 have suggested that this
amendment to the Constitution would protect marriage. We do not
believe that marriage of heterosexuals is threatened by same-sex
marriage. Rather, the Christian values of monogamy, commitment,
love, mutual respect and witness of monogamy are enhanced for all by
providing this right to gay and straight alike. Society is
strengthened when two people who love each other choose to enter
into marriage, engaged in a lifetime of disciplined relationship
building that serves as a witness to the importance of love and
commitment.
As bishops, we are not of one mind regarding how our Church’s clergy
should participate with the State in same-sex marriage. Some of us
believe it is appropriate to permit our clergy to officiate at such
marriages and pronounce blessings over the union; others of us
believe that we should await consent of our General Convention
before permitting such actions. Nevertheless, we are adamant that
justice demands that same-sex civil marriage continue in our state
and advocate voting “No” on Proposition 8.
General Convention 2006 in Columbus passed Resolution A095 that
said, "Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring, That the 75th
General Convention reaffirm the Episcopal Church's historical
support of gay and lesbian persons as children of God and entitled
to full civil rights; and be it further Resolved, That the 75th
General Convention reaffirm the 71st General Convention's action
calling upon municipal council, state legislatures and the United
States Congress to approve measures giving gay and lesbian couples
protection[s] such as: bereavement and family leave policies; health
benefits; pension benefits; real-estate transfer tax benefits; and
commitments to mutual support enjoyed by non-gay married couples and
be it further Resolved, That the 75th General Convention oppose any
state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex
civil marriage or civil unions."
We believe that continued access to civil marriage for all,
regardless of sexual orientation, is consistent with the best
principles of our constitutional rights. We believe that this
continued access promotes Jesus’ ethic of love, giving, and hope.
The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andres, Bishop of California
The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner, Bishop of Northern California
The Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles
The Rt. Rev. Mary Gray-Reeves, Bishop of El Camino Real
The Rt. Rev. Jerry A. Lamb, Provisional Bishop of San Joaquin
The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop of San Diego
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston, Assisting Bishop, Diocese of
California
The Rt. Rev. Chester Talton, Bishop Suffragan, Diocese of Los
Angeles
The Rt. Rev. Sergio Carranza, Bishop Assistant, Diocese of Los
Angeles
Statement from the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus
The Episcopal Church has voiced its support for the full rights
of lesbian, gay, transgendered, and bisexual people in civil
society.
The California Supreme Court ruling last Spring gives The Episcopal
Church in California a chance to stand with civil society in
forwarding the rights of LGBT people.
It is in keeping with Christian faith that all vulnerable people
deserve protection, support, the recognition of their dignity and
fairness.
We see in the stories of the New Testament Jesus and his
followers protecting, even honoring the most vulnerable people of
their society: widows, orphans, the extreme poor and lepers. I am a
follower of Jesus and want to live as he lived, with God’s help.
Living like Jesus means standing in solidarity with the
marginalized of the earth.
For me, voting “No” on Proposition 8 is a way I can stand in
solidarity with my LGBT brothers and sisters, and continue my
journey with Christ.
