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Do they or don't they?

by Dawn Wolfe

ANN ARBOR – The Aug. 12 edition of Between The Lines reported that, according to Karen Bota, the spokesperson for Bishop Gibbs, Bishop of the Diocese of Michigan, no Episcopal churches in southeast Michigan are currently offering blessing services to same-gender couples.
An anonymous reader wrote in to correct us, saying that there are, indeed, two churches in the metro Detroit area who offer this service – both in the Ann Arbor area.
However, a few calls to check facts showed that the question, "Are you offering blessing services to same-gender couples?" was not as straightforward as it at first seemed to be.
BTL first spoke with John Nieman, the Rector of St. Andrew's in Episcopal Church in Ann Arbor.
According to Pastor Nieman, "[At] St. Andrews…we have done, and have done for many years, since before my time (10 years), have carefully conducted same-sex blessings with the informed consent of the vestry (the lay governing body of the church)." The Pastor has not, however, performed the blessings since last year's General Convention of the national Episcopal Church.
"I don't know what would happen if congregation members presented themselves…I would have to think through that very carefully," he said.
Though concerned about the potential for conflict within the diocese over this issue, the pastor took pains to tell BTL that the LGBT community is welcome in his church.
"From the standpoint of St. Andrews, and many other congregations in the diocese, we want very much to be a pastoral presence to all people and reach out in any way we can," he said.
The pastor of St. Luke's in Ypsilanti was much less forthcoming. The Rev. Dr. JoAnn Kennedy Slater refused to either confirm or deny whether the blessings are now or ever were offered at her church.
Insisting that BTL call the Bishop's Detroit office again, the pastor declared, "I do what the Bishop tells me, as all clergy are supposed to."
In an attempt to achieve a resolution of this issue, BTL called Bota, whom was quoted in the original article as not knowing whether any churches in the diocese offer the blessing services.
According to Bota, "To the best of my knowledge, the churches have been asked not to [perform the blessings], and they aren't."
Asked what authority the bishop has over clergy members in his diocese, Bota said, "It's more of a network of relationships, they are in a direct heirarchy but unlike the Catholic church where the archbiship can go in and say 'I'm taking you out of there.'"
In order for a clergy member to be removed "They would have to be breaking canon law in our church. I don't believe it [performing the blessings] is, and especially after the General Convention," at which the Episcopal Church voted to study the matter.
As far as Bishop Gibbs' position, Bota said, "…really, it's more a matter of the Biship in collegiality asked the clergy not to do this," until the church as a whole comes to a consensus at the next General Convention.
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church is located at 306 N. Division in Ann Arbor. For more information, call the church at 734-663-0518. The website for the Diocese of Michigan is at www.edomi.org.

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