Tennessee Episcopal Bishop Bars Gay Marriage From Diocese

Christian Post Report – The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee has announced that his regional body will not perform gay marriages.

In response to The Episcopal Church’s recent vote to recognize rites for gay marriages, the Right Reverend John C. Bauerscimdt released a statement stating that his diocese will not perform such unions.

“In 2012 the General Convention of the Episcopal Church authorized provisional rites for the blessing of same sex relationships, which might be used for the blessing of these relationships in churches under the direction and with the permission of the local bishop,” stated Rev. Bauerschimdt.

“Under these provisions I have not given direction or permission for the use of these rites. This policy remains unchanged.”

In his statement, Bauerschmidt also said that while the concept of civil marriage has interplay between church and state, marriage is an institution “that predates any civil code.”

“No court or legislature determines the practice of faith communities in regard to marriage,” continued Bauerschmidt.

Last week, the leadership of the Episcopal Church approved a change in the mainline denomination’s definition of marriage.

At the General Convention held in Salt Lake City, the denomination made a canonical change eliminating language that defined marriage as between a man and a woman.

They also authorized two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples, changing the term “man and woman” with “couple.”

These changes for the Episcopal Church will take effect in December. As part of a compromise, bishops opposed to the new marriage rites can refuse to allow them in their dioceses.

A spokesperson with The Episcopal Church directed The Christian Post to a statement by the Very Rev. Brian Baker, deputy chair of the Special Legislative Committee on Marriage, in support of the resolutions.

Rev. Baker considered the resolutions from last week to be the fulfillment of a near four-decade effort to have the Church come to fully homosexual unions, beginning with a 1976 resolution that said “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the church.”

“That resolution began a 39-year conversation about what that full and equal claim would look like. The conversation has been difficult for many and painful for many,” stated Rev. Baker.

Kimberly M. Dougherty, communications assistant for the Diocese of Tennessee, directed The Christian Post to a statement that Bauerschmidt signed along with other bishops dissenting from the passed resolutions.

Known as the “Communion Partners Salt Lake City Statement,” the document argues for an understanding of marriage definition that presently resides in the Book of Common Prayer.

“The 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, in passing Resolutions A036 and A054, has made a significant change in the Church’s understanding of Christian marriage. As bishops of the Church, we must dissent from these actions,” stated the document in part.