One of the main reasons why I became an Episcopalian was due to the Church’s strong Baptismal theology. Through our baptisms, not only are we “sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own forever,” we become full members of the greater Church. Thus, it is through our baptisms that all Sacraments follow.
As the Church has lived fully into what our Baptismal Covenant has meant, we have become more firm in our belief that no Christians, by virtue of his/her baptism, should be discriminated against. This has led the Church to state that baptism, and baptism alone (unless there are certain areas prohibited such as age) gives all Episcopalians access to enter a discernment process for ordination. Although no right is given to an ordination, our baptism alone makes us worthy to enter the process.
Continually, the General Convention has had to speak to certain groups who might otherwise be discriminated against as we understand more about the human nature. At this General Convention, three resolutions dealing with gender identity and gender expression were proposed to be added to the list in Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 which specifically defines groups which cannot be discriminated against.
The Cognate Committee of World Mission has discharged one of the resolutions (as it is pretty much a duplicate) and then worked on seeking ways to add gender identity and expression to the Canons. The resolution addressed was C061 which states:
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church is hereby amended to read as follows: No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.
EXPLANATION
Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church states: “No person shall be denied access to the discernment process for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.” This resolution would revise this canon by adding “gender identity and expression” to this list of protected categories of access, but not of right.
This revision is based upon our increased understanding and practice to respect the human dignity of transgender people– transsexuals, and others who differ from majority societal gender norms. Gender identity, in and of itself, should not be a basis for exclusion from consideration for the participation in the ministries of the Church.
During this morning’s committee meeting, members struggled with how to add more groups, to maintain the spirit of nondiscrimination and to simply be the people we are called to be.
In their deliberations, members wanted the canons to be even more clear to simply state that no person, due to his/her baptism, should be denied access to a discernment process for ministry. Likewise, they also argued that no individual, due to one’s baptism, should have his/her process terminated for one of these areas.
In motion after motion, the Deputies and Bishops of the Committee finally came up with perhaps could be a breakthrough canon change on ministry. The amended resolution states:
Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That Title III, Canon 1, Sec. 2 of the Canons of the Episcopal Church is hereby amended to read as follows: All baptized persons shall have full access to the discernment process, for any ministry, lay or ordained, in this church, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No person shall be denied access, or have their discernment process terminated, because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity (or) expression, disabilities or age, except as otherwise provided by these Canons. No right to licensing, ordination, or election is hereby established.
Of course, it would be great to simply state that “all baptized persons shall have full access to the discernment process,” without having to add a list. Yet, this stroke of genius, including adding gender identity or expression which is a self understanding of gender, it means that without a doubt, our Church takes our baptismal vows seriously.
The Resolution will go to the House of Deputies. Although it received a majority of the votes of the Deputies, it was not a majority. Within the Bishop’s side, all voted no. However, this does not necessarily mean that the resolution will fail.
I commend C061 as amended to all of us a gift to the Church. May we be wise enough to pass it.
Copyright © 2009 The Very Rev. Christopher D. Hofer