Background
A group of Texas Episcopalians who favor the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people in the life and ministry of The Episcopal Church conceived and planned this conference to celebrate the diversity of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas and to expand the conversation in Texas about full inclusion.
“After General Convention in 2009, we sensed that the Diocese of Texas was not having the kinds of conversations about LGBT people that were going on elsewhere in our church and, consequently, our diocese seemed to be left out of the national conversation,” said The Very Rev. Joe Reynolds, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Houston. “We wanted to find a way to help Texas have those conversations and to contribute to the national conversation, but in a way that tries to engage those who disagree and does not drive them away. We believe this conference is a small but important step toward that goal.”
The Episcopal Church has grown increasingly open and welcoming to LGBT people since its national governing body, the General Convention, passed a resolution in 1976 affirming that “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.” Although the Episcopal Diocese of Texas has been slower to move on these issues than the national church, at the most recent meeting of the Diocese’s legislative body, it passed the following resolution:
A Resolution of Unity within our Diversity as the Episcopal Diocese of Texas (passed by The 161st Council of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in Killeen, Texas on February 14, 2010).
Whereas, the Episcopal Diocese of Texas is a large and diverse diocese that expresses the Kingdom into which God invites all people; and,
Whereas, God the Holy Spirit works in and through our creative diversity to nurture, expand, and transform us ever more deeply into the people we are called by God to be, be it;
Resolved, that the 161st council of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas claims unity in the midst of our diversity through the gifts of our shared Baptismal Covenant and our common conviction and proclamation that Jesus is Lord; and, be it further,
Resolved, that all sorts and conditions of humanity, regardless of gender, ethnicity, race, nationality, or sexual orientation, and especially all of God’s children entrusted to our care, are loved beyond measure by God in Christ, are welcomed and valued in our institutions, mission, ministries and parishes, and are a blessing to our collective life as we engage together in mission and ministry; and, be it further,
Resolved, that all people in our communities and their relationships receive the pastoral care, time, attention and honor they are due as God is revealed in and through them and as God works to change us all into a holy people.