ANGLICAN COMMUNION NEWS

The Diocese of Virginia held its annual Council meeting on Saturday 24 January. During the meeting a resolution affirming “the inherent integrity and blessedness of committed Christian relationships“ regardless of gender was passed:

R-4a Integrity of Committing Relationships

RESOLVED, that the Diocese of Virginia recognizes our responsibility to respond to the pastoral needs of our faithful gay and lesbian members in a spirit of love, compassion and respect, and in doing so seek to fulfill our baptismal commitment to respect the dignity of every human being; and be it further

RESOLVED, that accordingly the 214th Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia affirms the inherent integrity of and blessedness of committed Christian relationships between two adult persons, when those relationships are "characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God." (Resolution 2000-D039 of the 73rd General Convention of the Episcopal Church).

Two other resolutions discussed at the Council meeting were not passed, but referred to an already existing diocesan Windsor Dialogue Commission. The resolutions can be found at:

R-5: Allowing Clergy To Exercise Pastoral Care In Blessing the Unions Of Same-Gender Couples
R-6: Inclusiveness in Ordained Ministry