Homosexuality; Private Sexual Morality

Positions on Social Issues

Homosexuality; Private Sexual Morality

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"Without making any judgment on the morality of homosexuality," Convention in 1974 endorsed legislation (including a bill then before the New York City Council) that would guarantee homosexuals all civil rights guaranteed to other citizens.

The 1978 Convention memorialized the General Convention, stating that the effect of the sexual preference of a candidate for ordination on fitness for ministry be left to the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop; that the Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry ought not raise the issue in their consideration of a candidate's fitness; and called on the Bishops for pastoral counseling to the individual.

The 1983 Convention noted the use of the AIDS crisis to "perpetuate prejudice and to fan hatred against gay men?" and rejected seeing AIDS as "God's punishment upon gay men and others as put fort by proponents of the New Right and the sects."

The 1988 Convention requested the Bishop to appoint a task force on sexuality, heterosexism and homophobia.

The 1991 Convention expressed dismay over increased police violence against a number of groups, including gay and lesbian people.

The 1995 Convention affirmed the Koinonia Statement in acknowledgement of the "reality that already exists in our Diocese." The same Convention called upon Diocesan stockholding entities to urge companies in their portfolios to "prohibit employment discrimination based on marital status and sexual orientation," inform employees of this prohibition, and provide anti-discrimination training to personnel officers. The Convention also supported the passage of an amendment to the New York State Anti-Discrimination Laws that would outlaw discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation.

The 1996 Convention directed "the diocesan administration to seek the means to extend all financial benefits, for which the Diocese has administrative responsibility and which pertain to the spouses of married employees, to same-sex partners of single employees."

The 1998 Convention supported "an official presence of the Diocese in the Parade, and urges parishioners from the Diocese to participate in the Parade and in the liturgical events incidental to it, as an indication that the motto, "The Episcopal Church Welcomes You" applies to absolutely everyone."

In response to Resolution 1.10 of the 1998 Lambeth Convention, the 1999 Diocesan Convention affirmed section (c) of that resolution, recognizing "that there are among us persons who experience themselves as having a homosexual orientation," and that states, "We commit ourselves to listen to the experience of homosexual persons and we wish to assure them that they are loved by God and that all baptized,, believing and faithful persons, regardless of sexual orientation, are full members of the Body of Christ." The Convention affirmed "the traditional understanding of the Anglican Communion that Scripture, tradition, and reason together provide the basis for our discernment of God's will in our lives," and rejected that portion of the Lambeth resolution (section d) "rejecting homosexual practice as incompatible with Scripture."

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