Episcopalians debate heterosexism; Collins cancels concert Episcopal News Service Friday, July 7, 2000 DENVER – As it moves through a number of proposals on its plate, the special committee appointed to deal with sexuality issues has combined a resolution on heterosexism with another resolution calling for continued dialogue on sexuality. The resolution (B008), submitted by Bishop Charles Bennison of Pennsylvania, called for a pastoral teaching and study guide "on the sin of heterosexism." In amended form, it is now part of a resolution from the Diocese of Maine that would commit the church to continue the dialogue and study concerning human sexuality (C008). Special Committee 25 so far has held two hearings on these and five other resolutions dealing with safe places for gays and lesbians, the Boy Scouts of America policy on gays and lesbians, the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music's report, and rites for blessing same-sex unions. 'A systemic form of injustice' Instead of directing the House of Bishops to prepare a pastoral teaching along with a study guide on heterosexism, the resolution now requests the House of Bishops, "in preparation for a pastoral teaching," to prepare a pastoral study guide on heterosexism. Bishop John Howe of Central Florida, who recommended the change, noted that in 1994 the House of Bishops changed its proposed teaching on human sexuality to a pastoral study as a way of acknowledging that the church was not ready for a definitive statement from the bishops. The committee also qualified the resolution's direct definition of heterosexism as a "systemic form of injustice" by stating that it is "characterized as" such. Rebecca Snow (Alaska) noted that, based on what was said in the hearings, "heterosexism is not a word that many people are familiar with or are comfortable with." Another change was the substitution of the word "advantaged" for the word "benefited" in reference to how heterosexual persons are favored by the present system. The new language would call heterosexism "a systemic form of injustice in which heterosexual persons are advantaged economically, societally as well as in other respects, at the expense of homosexual persons." The resolution now goes to the House of Deputies for consideration. Judy Collins cites discrimination, cancels concert News that singer Judy Collins had decided to cancel a scheduled concert at the General Convention to protest what she called the church's discriminatory policies against homosexuals, prompted a strong response at the convention Eucharist of Integrity, a national Episcopal group of gays and lesbians. In his homily to the congregation that filled St. Johns Cathedral in Denver on the evening of July 6, Bishop Steven Charleston said that Collins must have "been talking to the wrong people." The Episcopal Church "has a long way to go," Charleston said. But, he added, "Judy, look at all the faces in this room, look at the healing that is rising up in this cathedral." In a news release issued earlier that day, Collins stated that she was canceling her scheduled appearance at a July 10 concert to benefit the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief. Collins said that she was "shocked" to learn that "the Episcopal Church, of which I'm a member and in which I was married, does not have an official national church policy allowing ministers to officiate at same-sex unions or ordain openly gay people." While the church is considering moves that would allow each diocese to determine "whether or not to ordain gays and lesbians, or bless same-gender couples on a local level," Collins said that the lack of a national policy amounted to "supporting discrimination." She said she decided to cancel her appearance to protest this "indecision of the Episcopal Church to fully accept all persons into the Christian faith." Integrity points to church advances Integrity President Michael Hopkins also said his organization respects Collins' "right to make this decision." Integrity appreciates "the message of the full inclusion of lesbian and gay persons that she intends to send to the church," he said. At the same time, he added, "the Episcopal Church, we believe, is on a journey to the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people, a journey we, as Episcopalians, are proud of – despite the fact that it remains incomplete." Hopkins said, "We especially regret that this action affects the Presiding Bishop's Fund, one of the church's finest organizations, which helps countless thousands of people throughout the world, including gay and lesbian persons."

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