In a letter dated July 16 and hand-delivered to Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, and Bonnie Anderson, president of the House of Deputies, sought to explain the significance of the passage of Resolution D025 by the General Convention.

The resolution states in part “that the 76th General Convention affirm[s] that God has called and may call [gay, lesbian, transgendered and bisexual] individuals, to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church, and that God’s call to the ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church is a mystery which the Church attempts to discern for all people through our discernment processes acting in accordance with the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church.” Resolution B033 approved on the final day of convention three years ago urged restraint in consenting to partnered homosexual persons to the episcopate.

“We understand Resolution D025 to be more descriptive than prescriptive in nature – a statement that reaffirms commitments already made by The Episcopal Church and that acknowledges certain realities of our common life,” the two presiding officers said. “Nothing in the Resolution goes beyond what has already been provided under our Constitution and Canons for many years.”

Bishop Jefferts Schori and deputy Anderson said “Some were concerned that the adoption of Resolution D025 has effectively repealed Resolution B033. That is not the case. This General Convention has not repealed Resolution B033. It remains to be seen how Resolution B033 will be understood in light of Resolution D025.

“Some within our Church may understand Resolution D025 to give Standing Committees (made up of elected clergy and laity) and Bishops with jurisdiction with more latitude in consenting to episcopal elections. Others, in light of Resolution B033, will not. In either case, we trust that the Bishops and Standing Committees of The Episcopal Church will continue to exercise prayerful discernment in making such decisions, mindful and appreciative of our relationship in the Anglican Communion.

“In adopting this Resolution, it is not our desire to give offense. We remain keenly aware of the concerns and sensibilities of our brothers and sisters in other Churches across the Communion. We believe also that the honesty reflected in this resolution is essential if indeed we are to live into the deep communion that we all profess and earnestly desire.”