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CALIFORNIA: Integrity Applauds Nominations in Diocese of California
Press Release
February 20, 2006
Integrity is pleased by the wonderful diversity of the nominees for the next bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California-including both a gay man (the Very Rev. Robert Taylor) and a lesbian woman (the Rev. Bonnie Perry). It was inevitable that another gay/lesbian person would eventually be nominated to the episcopacy. Whether or not Robert or Bonnie is elected by the Diocese of California, it is inevitable that another gay/lesbian person WILL eventually be elected, confirmed, and consecrated to that order of ministry as the Episcopal Church continues to live into its call to fully include all of the baptized into the Body of Christ.
The job of the diocesan search committee was to nominate the best possible candidates-and they have certainly done so. All of the nominees are well qualified to be a bishop.
The awesome task now before the convention of the Diocese of California is to choose the right person from among the nominees to be their bishop. They must elect a bishop whom they believe will best meet the needs of their diocese in the coming years.
Regardless who is elected to be the Bishop of the Diocese of California, it will be the responsibility of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church to give or withhold consent to that election when it meets this June in Columbus. As it has in the past, Integrity expects General Convention to follow canonical procedures to the letter-giving consent to the bishop-elect if there is no justifiable impediment to his/her consecration. The canons clearly state that, "No one shall be denied rights, status or access to an equal place in the life, worship, and governance of this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disabilities or age."
We realize that some of our brothers and sisters in other provinces of the Anglican Communion will be dismayed by Robert and Bonnie's nomination and, perhaps, regard it as deliberate disregard for the Windsor Report. However, it must be remembered that the Windsor Report is a set of recommendations with no binding authority. Both the Diocese of California and the Episcopal Church must discern and obey the will of God as faithfully as they know how-even if doing so in not consonant with the understanding of other members of our communion.
(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President
president@integrityusa.org
