When I first joined the Episcopal Church over 25 years ago one of the things that impressed me was the Church’s diversity of thought, how broad and inclusive it was. At the same time I celebrated this I was also aware of the tension it created. While some have said the Episcopal church is a confusing place, many times mirroring the confusion of our culture, at the time I embraced the life of the Episcopal church I thought, “How real and honest this is, not pretending everything is neatly wrapped up and solved.” I believed then and now that the honest tension created by diverse voices is a creative tension through which new ideas emerge as God’s Spirit continues to speak to and guide the Church, the Body of Christ in the world.
The expansive, inclusive love of Christ that we see in the Gospels, the way of love that our Presiding Bishop proclaims, is primary to our calling as Christ’s followers. Over the years I have seen the cost of what happens when the two great commandments seem to be put second for the sake of preserving traditional practices. I have seen how the pattern of practices over people leads to the exclusion of those who do not fit into a specific way of living into faithful love.
It has grieved me to watch so many of you serve faithfully, lovingly in your various ministries, to come to the table each week, to be involved in preparing and carrying out the sacramental life of this parish and then be excluded from the sacrament of marriage. In so many cases your consciences have not been honored. In spite of this, I have been humbled by your ongoing faithful witness as Vestry members, Altar Guild members, Eucharistic ministers, and the whole list of other ministries of the church.
But now through the acts of the 79th General Convention it is a new day. Resolution B012 has made clear that the authority to make the decision of allowing same sex marriages rests with the Rector or Priest in Charge of each parish within the Episcopal church. This is also affirmed in Canon III.9 6(a) of the National canons and is also stated in Canon 17 section 17.2 of the Diocesan canons.
Over the past weeks I have been grateful for all those who have made the changes passed in General Convention possible. Let us not forget, though, those who have prepared the soil for the growth that has come to pass, such as my predecessor The Rev’d Stephen Waller who helped this parish maintain it’s witness of radical welcome over the course of so many years. I am also grateful for Bishop Sumner who has made himself available to listen to my deep concerns about exclusion and has made an effort to affirm my own calling to voice my disagreement with him.
I am grateful for all who have testified before the General Convention, all those who have been behind the scenes for so many years like our own Fred Ellis – building bridges, working to make the current changes a reality. I am also thankful for those who are a part of our Dallas deputation who reached out to us during and after General Convention to listen to our concerns or just to be in relationship people like our sister, Lee Spence from St Dunstan’s Mineola, who came up to a small group of us when we were in Austin to say, “I may disagree with you but I sure do love you all.” It is through such relationships across difference that the example of Christ is honored. I vow to continue being in relationship with those with whom I disagree to build bridges and I hope you will join me in this effort.
With all this being said, by the authority given to me as Rector of this parish, pursuant to resolution B012 passed at General Convention of the Episcopal Church in 2018, effective Advent I December 2, 2018, I intend to begin performing Same Sex Marriages at the Episcopal Church of St Thomas the Apostle and I ask for the Vestry’s affirmation of my decision. View same sex marriage resolution >
Faithfully,
Joy A. Daley, Rector
The Episcopal Church of St. Thomas the Apostle
