Wednesday, June 21, 2006

ECUSA Press Conference Following B033 Passage

About to begin...

Briefing with the PB live from the press room:

Canon Williams introduces briefers:

+Chang
++Griswold
Warner+
Bonnie Anderson

We will begin with opening statements:

Warner+: 36 years ago I walked into my first HOD and was there when we seated women there for the first time. When the moment came, the one vote had come from the diocese of RI, and a roar went up from the house that was amazing. It has been my pleasure to see another change with the election of a woman PB. But what I want to say is that we dod not elect a woman to the PB or a woman to the president of the HOD. You see how important these things are. When B033 hit the floor we see how amazing she was running the house. I have been visiting the church and I have good friends that have a lot of pain surrounding WO, but this is certainly significant.

PB: A great deal has gone on and it cannot be reduced to one or two issues. It all has to do with reconciliation. What I have termed the diverse center has finally found its voice. AS they said on the floor: no longer are we going to be pulled about by the right and the left. God did not create the church for its own sake. It exists to be reconciling agent. That is why the millinium goals are so important with its goal of reconciliation and bringing justice to those who do not have it. People are reconciled to Christ so that they can be ministers of reconciliation in the world.

B. Anderson: For those who were in there you probably got a sense for its size it is very large. And there are people who are very committed to viewpoints. You saw today people willing to release positions long held in an open spirit of generosity. Now we have the space to go forward into the mission of the church. Now we can go forward and reach our millennium goals. The deputies also have work in the triennium.

Chang: In the conversation in the HOB it marks a fruition of work that began a long time ago. The focus on mission and the desire to move ahead in mission was very clear. WE deliberated in a sense of oneness and unity. All of this was done in the context of a prayerful spirit.

London Times: When the new PB spoke she said that she spoke because she believes it will be open for consideration in the near future. What is the effect of this resolution?

PB: The resolution has to be lived.

Bates: DO you have any grounds for supposing this will be acceptable

PB: I do not. I have spoken with the abc said he appreciated the seriousness with which we have responded
Conger: Where do rites for same sex blessings stand

PB: this general convention has not authorized any rites nor has it authorized the development of any rites.

Zeiger: The HOD refused to give D085 a floor hearing. Is this a good representation of the church?

Warner: here is what I have learned from traveling across the country. I got to tell you this church believes that Jesus Christ is the way and the truth and the life. The problem with legislation is that all polity and all churches, legislation is inadequate. When you bring in certain kinds of resolutions as if you can vote up and down God’s truth, that just does not work. tHere is no way you can say we have not been changed by Jesus Christ

PB: Also we recite and believe the Creeds which state the Lordship of Christ clearly. Resolutions to that effect would be unnecessary and redundant.

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