Claiming the Blessing (CTB) facilitates communication and coordination among groups working to extend all of the sacraments to all those baptized in the Episcopal Church. CTB's current priorities center on winning approval of key resolutions at the 2012 General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Indianapolis. Integrity, TransEpiscopal, the Episcopal Women's Caucus and Oasis California are some of CTB's members. This update covers news from the Aug. 6-7, 2010 CTB meeting in Ft. Worth, Texas. The photo on left shows those attending the meeting (Copyright 2010 Cynthia Black, Photo by  Gayland Pool). Shown in back row< left to right: Jim White, John Clinton Bradley, Louise Brooks, Susan Russell. Katie Sherrod, Cynthia Black and Tom Jackson; front row, Kim Byham.

Introduction

Every three years, clergy and lay leaders from across America come together to form our General Convention (GC).  Bishops meet as a group (the House of Bishops) while priests, deacons and lay leaders meet as the House of Deputies. Some major decisions (revising the Book of Common Prayer, change the church law) must be approved during two consecutive conventions. Other actions must only be approved once. We are in the midst of a three year period (triennium) that culminates in the 2012 GC.

Believe OutLoud

During the 2010 CTB meeting, we learned how Believe OutLoud is serving a core program for Integrity during the current triennium. 

Believe OutLoud  is a response to research showing clergy are more progressive on LGBT issues than their parishioners thought and  parishioners are more progressive than clergy thought. Believe OutLoud is an way to get people talking about this. Aimed at 7 mainline protestant denominations, Believe OutLoud includes a website with lots of resources. A Believe OutLoud ad campaign is set to start in October, 2010.

Next Steps

1. Integrity is working to offer Believe OutLoud workshops on a diocesan level. Oasis had offered to work with the Integrity Bay Area group to help host one in Diocese of California.  

2. California is one of six battleground states Integrity has identified in the campaign  for marriage equality. Integrity is working to have each diocesan convention within these states approve a resolution supporting opening civil marriage to same gender couples. Integrity will draft a model resolution for each diocese. Oasis and the Integrity Bay Area group will assist. 

3. In preparing for GC 2012, CTB will assist those working on materials for same gender blessings, trans issues (following the lead of Trans Episcopal) and the Episcopal Women's Caucus.

Revised: August 10, 2010

[CTB Timeline] [Resolution C056 Text]

Also: Integrity Celebrates Eighth Anniversary of Claiming the Blessing