Today the Presiding Bishop’s office and the Diocese of Florida announced that a majority of both standing committees and bishops of The Episcopal Church have voted not to consent to the bishop election in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. We believe this result was a necessary response to an election that was shaped within a diocesan context with a documented pattern and practice of systemic discrimination against LGBTQIA+ clergy. With this vote the wider Church has said that our nondiscrimination canons do in fact matter in the breach. We note as well the significance of both groups – standing committees and bishops – discerning this response as a sign of clarity and care for the Diocese of Florida and for all of us connected to one another across the Church.
We lift up that spirit of care, clarity, and connection in prayer for the Diocese of Florida, knowing that they have a long road ahead. We pray for everyone impacted by decision: for the lay and ordained leadership of the diocese; for the Rev. Charlie Holt and his family; and especially for the LGBTQIA+ people of the diocese who took significant personal risks in sharing their experiences and calling for an intervention for justice and healing.
As we wrote in our statement about the consent process on March 21, “We know as well as anyone in the Church that we are all still on a journey in this Church to overcome discrimination across many dimensions.” We continue to believe this strongly, as our own recent testimonies in this blog space have underscored (here and here, for example). All of us in our various diocesan contexts must continue intentionally and urgently on this journey together. This journey is not about the “chaotic nature of church politics and clashes of personal interest,” and it is most certainly not born of “wicked motives.” It is of the Spirit of truth who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).
We take no joy in this outcome – indeed, we observe the pain out of which this decision has emerged – but we do take hope. Hope in Christ who has said “I will be with you always” (Mt 28:20). Hope in the nearness of God’s just reign. Hope in the collective body of Christ, knit together in baptism, journeying together in solidarity toward the mystery of resurrection life.
We lift up that spirit of care, clarity, and connection in prayer for the Diocese of Florida, knowing that they have a long road ahead. We pray for everyone impacted by decision: for the lay and ordained leadership of the diocese; for the Rev. Charlie Holt and his family; and especially for the LGBTQIA+ people of the diocese who took significant personal risks in sharing their experiences and calling for an intervention for justice and healing.
As we wrote in our statement about the consent process on March 21, “We know as well as anyone in the Church that we are all still on a journey in this Church to overcome discrimination across many dimensions.” We continue to believe this strongly, as our own recent testimonies in this blog space have underscored (here and here, for example). All of us in our various diocesan contexts must continue intentionally and urgently on this journey together. This journey is not about the “chaotic nature of church politics and clashes of personal interest,” and it is most certainly not born of “wicked motives.” It is of the Spirit of truth who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).
We take no joy in this outcome – indeed, we observe the pain out of which this decision has emerged – but we do take hope. Hope in Christ who has said “I will be with you always” (Mt 28:20). Hope in the nearness of God’s just reign. Hope in the collective body of Christ, knit together in baptism, journeying together in solidarity toward the mystery of resurrection life.
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