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  • Home
    • Fr. Kevin's Blog
    • Calendar
    • Map and Directions
    • Sign up for our Weekly Newsletter: THE DIVINE HERALD
  • I am new
  • Leadership
  • Ministries
    • Children's Ministry
    • Adult Faith Formation
    • Columbarium Ministry
    • Outreach
    • Pastoral Care
    • Women's Wellness Group
    • Worship Ministries
  • The Episcopal Church
    • Other Resources
  • Communication
  • Homilies
  • Same-Sex Union Blessing Dialogue
  • Prayer Ministry
  • Safeguarding God's Children
  • Thanksgiving Day Dinner Order
  • Thanksgiving Day Volunteer Email List
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YOUR CART

Dialogue  Surrounding  the  Blessing  of  Same-Sex  Unions

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we prayerfully prepare to engage in a very important dialogue regarding our response as a parish to the bishop’s invitation to discern whether or not we will bless same-sex unions who have already been civilly married, I wanted to outline some important values and parameters that I hope will guide our dialogue.

As with any dialogue, it is important to be intentional about what our objectives are. It is my hope that our objectives are more than just a Vestry vote on whether or not this parish will bless same-sex couples who have been civilly married. It is my hope that this important dialogue will bring about a deeper engagement with our Faith, as well as with one another. Ultimately, the goal of any meaningful dialogue is a deeper understanding of, and respect for, one another, even if we may happen to disagree.

The bishop is asking the Vestry to vote, but a democracy does not ensure that people are listened to, understood, and respected on both sides. Our current political state proves this very clearly. Our task at hand, as I hope and pray, is not just to vote or express our opinion, but to engage our faith and one another in mutual respect, charity, and dialogue. If done well, this dialogue can serve to actually energize and renew our parish as opposed to dividing it, as has tragically been the case in some parish communities in the past.

Perhaps it would be beneficial to borrow a pivotal concept from our Jewish brothers and sisters known as Pilpul. Pilpul is the view that tension is normal and healthy, and even necessary for truth to be more deeply understood. Like Episcopalians, Judaism is full of divergent viewpoints, and Judaism at its best embraces the tension because it ultimately enriches and encourages all to strive more deeply to understand God’s truth and movement in our lives.

Personally speaking, I am blessed and honored to be part of a tradition that invites and encourages this kind of dialogue over an issue that I was not allowed to discuss in the tradition from which I came. I am looking forward to being challenged to understand others, as well as engaging my own position on this particular issue in new and meaningful ways.

Please consider coming to our dialogue session on February 1st at 9am, and please take some time, if you are not familiar, to review the accompanying documents that outline both the national church’s, as well as our bishop’s and diocese’s, position on this issue. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me as well, if you would like more information, or would simply like to have further conversation!

May the peace and love of Christ guide our hearts and minds as we enter into this important dialogue!

Fr. Jason

links  to  important  documents  to  review

General Convention Resolution of 2012
File Size: 57 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Position of Bishop Miller
File Size: 46 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

standing_committee_cover_letter.pdf
File Size: 46 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

standing_committee_report.pdf
File Size: 264 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

standing_committee_report_to_bishop_on_blessing_marriages_of_same_gender_couples.pdf
File Size: 3093 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Bishop Miller's Response to the Standing Committee Report
File Size: 4905 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Diocese of Pittsburgh Pastoral Letter
File Size: 270 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

216 E. Chandler Blvd
Burlington, WI 53105
262-763-748
2

Rev.  Dr. Kevin D. Huddleston,  Rector 

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Sunday
8.30 am Celebration of the Holy Eucharist

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