Resources for same-gender blessings to be collected By Mary Frances Schjonberg Episcopal News Service
its relationships in the Anglican Communion; recognizes the contributions of both its lay and ordained gay and he 76th General Convenlesbian members; that many of those tion reaffirmed the inclumembers live in committed relationsive nature of the Episcopal ships; that access to the church’s disChurch’s ordination procernment and ordination process is open cess and agreed to spend the next to all baptized members according to three years developing resources that the Constitution and Canons; and that could be used for blessing samemembers of the church disagree faithgender relationships. fully and conscientiously about issues The moves came in the form of of human sexuality. resolutions D025 on the ordination D025 was chosen from among 13 process and C056 on same-gender resolutions that proposed some action blessings. addressing Resolution B033, adopted by the 75th General Convention (2006), Resolution D025 Resolution D025 says that the (Continued on page 20) Episcopal Church is committed to
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Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire presided at the Integrity Eucharist at General Convention
Budget
(Continued from page 16) percent ($11.6 million) will come from other income. Expenses are budgeted at $140,856,531. Those figures compare with the projected bottom line of the current 2007–2009 triennial budget of $164,863,529 in revenue and $163,934,334 in expenses. The formula for asking the 110 dioceses to contribute to the cost of funding the wider church will change. The current 21 percent of income asking is preserved for 2010, but it will drop annually by 1 percent in 2011 and 2012. The $100,000 income exemption will rise to $120,000, thus leaving more money in dioceses. The convention said the budget’s mission priorities for 2010-2012 would be “networking the members of the body of Christ, alleviating poverty and injustice, claiming our identity, growing congregations and the next generations of faith, and strengthening governance and foundations for ministry.” Some churchwide programs will (Continued on page 20) At right: Morning light casts shadows on the floor of the main entryway of the Anaheim Convention Center. The Southern Cross September/October 2009
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