The Rt. Rev. Stephen Lane is someone I count as a personal friend. As the Bishop of Maine, he was faced with the need to respond to marriage equality and how the Episcopal Church will live with it when, on November 6th, the people of Maine voted to extend marriage to all.
In his usual well-informed and pastoral style Bishop Lane has issued guidelines that can be viewed here.
The document is beautifully, clearly and directly written with sensitivity the concerns of all. No clergy is mandated to bless any marriage. They never have been and never will be. But the bishop makes it clear from the get-go that he is giving permission for his priests to bless these marriages and legally act as they would for any marriage.
The bishop was Canon to the Ordinary in Rochester, an office he served with grace and knowledge of the the church and the requirements of the office, before he was elected as the Bishop of Maine. Steve, I love you more than ever!
No comments:
Post a Comment