Date: Thu, 16 May 1996 15:52:26 -0400 (EDT) From: Louie Crew Subject: EPISCOPAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS REGARDING THE RIGHTER DECISION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATEMENT OF THE EPISCOPAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS REGARDING THE RIGHTER DECISION May 16, 1996 The Episcopal Women's Caucus rejoices at the decision rendered by the Court for the Trial of a Bishop in dismissing both charges against retired Bishop Walter C. Righter. We especially rejoice with our lesbian sisters and gay brothers in this affirmation of the gift of their ministries in our Church. The decision expressed in the Opinion of the Court not only clarifies what constitutes the core doctrine of our Church, but also reaffirms the essential faith claims of Christianity. We believe those faith claims free us to proclaim that the Gospel message is an inclusive message. We give thanks that the Church is not now compelled to drive out large numbers of faithful and effective clergy who are lesbian and gay along with the bishops who ordained them. God calls human beings to God's service, and the Church ordains human beings, not categories. This decision brings us one step closer to a whole priesthood, to the time when all of us can fully live out the Baptismal invitation to live as part of Christ's eternal priesthood. The Court's Opinion clarifies an important distinction about when use of the presentment process is appropriate. In its Opinion, in Section III.E, the Court writes: "Some doctrinal teachings of the Church have been found to be so important to the ordering of the life of the Church that they have been made mandatory, with disciplinary consequences defined in canon law for failure to conform. Some of these understandings, as for example what constitutes eligibility for ordination, are incorporated in the constraints found in Title III of the Canons concerning age, *gender*, and prior ordination, and *which are binding* upon bishops, standing committees, commissions on ministry, vestries and presbyters". [Emphasis added] "No such written constraint is contained in the Canons," the Court continues, that would forbid "the ordination of persons because of homosexuality, in orientation or practice." This clarifies something often overlooked in recent heated debates: that there are two parallel struggles ongoing in the Church - the ordination of women and the ordination of non-celibate gay and lesbian persons. While the presentment process is not appropriate to resolve situations in which neither doctrine nor canon exist, it can be appropriate in matters which General Convention, as the legislative body of the Church, has codified in canons which carry disciplinary consequences, such as the eligibility of women for ordination to the priesthood and episcopate. As we work through these issues in General Convention in 1997, we pray that the Church will continue to interpret received history, moral tradition and Biblical texts in light of the principles of fundamental human value and equality as expressed in our Baptismal Covenant when we promise, with God's help, "to strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." The Church cannot be fully human or fully reflect the image of God without all of God's people. Former Caucus president, the Rev. Carol Cole Flanagan, perhaps best characterized the impact of the Court's decision when she said, "The Church has always acted its way into new ways of thinking. It has never thought its way into new ways of acting." The Episcopal Women's Caucus is a national organization which represents the feminist voice within the Episcopal Church of the United States. ### The Caucus Board is meeting in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from 5/15 - 5-19. Contacts: The Rev. Cynthia Black, president Ms. Katie Sherrod, vice-president (616) 373 - 1015