Pastoral Letter Regarding Same Gender Marriage

July 3, 2015

Dear Family and Friends of the Diocese of Eau Claire,

The Episcopal Church concluded its General Convention today. The most controversial action of this gathering regarded two resolutions concerning same gender marriage. On July 28, 2013, I wrote a Pastoral Letter to you outlining my position and policies regarding same gender relationships. When the federal judge in Madison struck down Wisconsin’s Constitutional Amendment last year prohibiting same-gender marriage, I wrote the clergy of our Diocese on how to proceed. The General Convention has now altered its canons to permit same gender marriage. It is time for me to issue updated guidelines on this matter.

1. No Episcopal Church same gender marriages can take place until after the First Sunday of Advent of 2015. Until that date clergy can officiate at same gender ceremonies which are marriages by the State of Wisconsin but are blessings—not marriages—in the church. This is because the new marriage canon does take effect until the First Sunday of Advent of 2015.

2. Clergy can refuse to officiate at any marriage and for any or no reason. This is canon law. I as your bishop permit other clergy to officiate at same gender marriages but will not do them myself. As is true for many clergy of the diocese, I do this out of conscience. As long as I remain your bishop I also will refrain from officiating at any heterosexual marriages except for my extended family of children, nieces, and nephews.

3. If there is to be a same gender marriage taking place in the Diocese, the clergy are required to inform me.

4. If one or both persons choosing to marry had prior marriages that ended in divorce there must be a petition sent to me asking permission to marry. This is canon law and applies to heterosexual and same gender couples.

5. The marriage service in the Book of Common Prayer is only for heterosexual couples. There is a trial rite of blessing that the 2012 General Convention approved. That is in effect for same gender couples until the First Sunday of Advent 2015. On that date forward, I prohibit blessings and permit only trial marriage rites for same gender couples. There are two rites. One is based upon the 2012 blessing rite. The other is a modification of the service in the Book of Common Prayer. All couples, heterosexual and same gender, can use the trial rites of marriage.

6. The new canon determines that the Diocesan Bishop has the right to permit or prohibit clergy use of any trial marriage rite. In nearly all cases I permit the clergy to use the trial marriage rites. There is one exception. For a same gender marriage to occur within a church or on church grounds both the vestry and rector or priest-in-charge must approve and notify me that this is parish policy. If this does not happen I will withhold permission to use the trial marriage rites. A priest can officiate at a same gender marriage away from church grounds without vestry permission. A vestry can invite another priest to celebrate a same gender marriage provided the rector or priest in charge approves.

7. Any same gender couple wishing to marry can come to me. I will arrange for the couple to work with a priest willing to officiate at the marriage. Christ Church Bayfield, which is under my direct supervision, or other churches where clergy and vestry have granted approval may be available.

Our society has gone through a rapid change in formalizing the relationships of same gender couples. It is reasonable for all of us to understand and appreciate why some members of our church can accept this change easily while others find the transition difficult. Some progressives might say, “It has been 40 or more years to get to this point. That’s long enough!” In light of marriage as an institution that goes back to the beginning of recorded time and earlier, this is a short span. Let’s respect same gender couples as well as the many people who hold traditional views of marriage. As Christians we are one people. We celebrate through baptism the dignity of every human being. We may have differences, but we are unified in our love of Jesus. Let us go forth in this love rejoicing in the power of the Spirit! With my love and best wishes, I am,

Your brother in Christ,
+W. Jay Lambert
Sixth Bishop of Eau Claire