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We're here to help you
prepare and plan for a blessing of your relationship in a church within the
Episcopal
Diocese of California. While developed to meet the needs of same gender
couples, this information can also help heterosexual couples.
The Book of Common Prayer blesses marriage as a
“holy union” and despite differing perspectives on sexual
orientation, the Church has taken consistent spiritual interest in human
commitments. While summoning widespread study, listening and discussion,
successive General Conventions have affirmed that the local diocese can best
respond to its members’ needs, under the Bishop’s guidance and within the
framework of Church Constitution and canons. Here in the Bay Area, Bishop Marc
Andrus allows couples to choose from five different services (or liturgies).
Some couples may want a brief blessing of their civil union while others may
prefer a more formal service including an exchange of rings and vows. You
can use this site as a starting point in working with your priest in
planning your blessing.
First, of course, you need a church. If you are
already a member of a Bay Area Episcopal Church, skip this paragraph. If
not, you can find a church home among these
Oasis Parishes - they are LGBT friendly Episcopal churches across the Bay Area.
An interfaith directory of LGBT-welcoming faith communities and congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area is
also maintained by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies
Coalition of Welcoming Congregations.
Five
services for blessing of same gender couples:
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The Celebration and Blessing of a
Holy Union adapted from The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage, The Book of Common Prayer 1979
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The Blessing of a Civil Union,
adapted from
The Book of Common Prayer 1979
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An Order for Holy Union,
adapted from The Book of Common Prayer 1979
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Liturgy for Holy Union,
adapted
from Marriage Liturgy, Second Form, in
A New Zealand Prayer Book
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The Celebration of a Covenant,
adapted from A Rite for the Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Covenants,
commonly referred to as The New Westminster Rite, from the Diocese of New
Westminster, The Anglican Church of Canada
On this site you can also:
In this section of the Oasis Web Site
you will find:
• Service 1: Celebration and Blessing of a Holy Union • Service 2: Blessing of a Civil Union • Service 3: Order for Holy Union • Service 4: New Zealand Prayer Book • Service 5: New Westminster Rite • Background & History •
Background
Our information comes reflects a 2008 Report
titled Inclusive Liturgy
Resources for Marriage, Holy Union and Blessing that can also be
downloaded as a single
word document or
PDF file.
Preface
Introduction
Resources
for blessing same gender couples
Preparation and
planning
Readings for Use in the
Blessing of Same Gender Unions
Historical Information
Appendix 1: Commission on Marriage and Blessing’s Initial
‘Charge,’ Diocesan Convention Resolutions—October 2005, and
Chronology
Appendix 2: Resolution for the 158th Convention,
and Result
Appendix 3: Bishop Andrus’ 2006 letter to The Clergy on the
Blessing of Same-Gender Unions
Appendix 4: Bishop Andrus’ response to the 15 May 2008
ruling by the California Supreme Court
California bishops denounce Proposition 8: 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.
After Prop 8, Love Endures: Bishop Andrus’ response to
passage of Prop 8, Nov. 6, 2008.
Bishop Marc Andrus responds to Prop 8 decision by US Chief Judge Vaughn R.
Walker
Aug. 4, 2010.
Andrus' address to Prop 8 rally at SF City Hall Aug. 4, 2010.
Acknowledgments
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