DENVER — Episcopalian bishops gave their stamp of approval July 13 to a sweeping statement that expresses the church’s “support” of “lifelong committed relationships” other than marriage, but refused to ask for ceremonies to officially sanction them.
The church’s House of Bishops voted 119-19 to approve a compromise resolution intended to acknowledge same-sex relationships, but which stops far short of blessing them.
On July 11, the church’s 832-member House of Deputies approved the same resolution.
The House of Deputies, comprised of lay and clergy members, rejected a provision that would have asked for special rites to bless lifelong monogamous relationships.
Some bishops had tried to resurrect that section, but the House of Bishops rejected it.
The resolution, which does not bear the weight of church law, is the first time the 2.5 million-member church has affirmed the value of relationships outside of marriage, either gay or straight.
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