From Episcopal Cafe
The House of Bishops Theology Committee is refusing to release the names of members of a sub-committee it has appointed to study same-sex relationships. The existence of the panel was first reported in the Blue Book, which contains information relevant to General Convention, 2009. However, the Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley of Alabama, chair of the Theology Committee has refused several requests to disclose the names of its members.
The anonymity of the panel raises serious concerns in the Church that prides itself on the transparency of its representative form of governance. In addition, the work of this secret panel has already been cited by some bishops as a reason to delay further legislative action on the issue of same-sex relationships until the panel finishes its work in 2011.
Read it all here.
Integrity responds:
“If this isn’t the height of absurdity and insult I don’t know what is,” said the Reverend Susan Russell, President of Integrity USA, the LGBT advocacy group within the Episcopal Church. “It sends a horrific message to gay and lesbian people – both inside and outside the church. The very concept of “secret studies” elicits painful memories of secret studies done on other minority groups in the past and is utterly contrary to our baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being. There is absolutely nothing dignified about a secret study of a group already being discriminated against. It is suspect, disingenuous and dishonest. ”
The Chicago Consultation press release is here.
4 comments:
So forgive my naiveté, but surely this should be old ground by now.
And surely, surely, some actual GAY PEOPLE should be part of it.
i get the feeling these people talk ABOUT gays a lot, but seldom TO them.
Sigh. And we had such hopes for TEC.
yeah - sorry we have such dirty little secrets
This is really bizarre news. I can't understand the justification for keeping something like this secret (like they are Homeland Security or something). I think this idea of a secret theology group is approaching something pathological. This is a very unhealthy practice.
As I said elsewhere: Sooo 1950ies, but then isn't the 1950ies the wet dream of the anti Moderns?
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