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To: Rectors and Vicars of the Diocese of Washington
Dear Friends in Christ:
I am writing to give you advanced notice that I have appointed a Task Force on the Blessing of Relationships. The Task Force will be meeting from now until the end of May when they hope to have a rite prepared for use in the Diocese of Washington for those persons for whom the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage in the Book of Common Prayer is not appropriate or not available for optional use.
In some cases these may be couples of the same sex, and in some cases these may be couples for whom marriage is not an appropriate or desirable step. Of these couples, those who are 65 years of age and older are 266,000 in number. As many of you know, our Diocese has a history of blessing relationships, and some of our congregarions and clergy have developed matierals that might enrich this effort. If you have such materials in your files, the Task Force would be happy to receive them.
The Task Force is being chaired by the Revs. Susan N. Blue and Michael W. Hopkins….The Task Force welcomes your input, so I encourage you to be in contact with them.
We are planning to inform the people of our Diocese in the next issue of the Washington Window.
In Christ’s peace, power and love,
The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, D.D.
Bishop of Washington and Dean of the Cathedral
