Message from Bishop Hollingsworth, March 1, 2010

March 2, 2010

Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

I write to notify you that I have given consent to the ordination of the Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool as Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Los Angeles. While I do not communicate with you about each episcopal consent process, I realize that this one may have particular import to some of you, and that the result of this process, whichever it is, will doubtless have bearing on relationships within both The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

The reasons for my consenting to this ordination are these: the election process was canonically uncompromised; Canon Glasspool is exceptionally qualified for this ministry and faithful to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church; the General Convention of The Episcopal Church has repeatedly, and again recently, determined that the ministries of this church are open to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, ethnic origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability.

I want you to know of the extensive thought, conversation, and prayer I have given this consent. I have sought thoughtful insight from lay and clergy leaders whose own conclusions cover the spectrum. And in this discernment, I have worked to hold in appropriate perspective my relationship with Canon Glasspool as friend and colleague, in order to give faithful consideration to the complexities of our life in Christian communion.

There are some bishops and standing committees who may withhold consent out of concern that ordaining to the episcopate Canon Glasspool, a lesbian in a committed relationship, might further strain relationships with some provinces of the Anglican Communion, even compromising our place in that fellowship. Their concern is a legitimate one, and their response of “gracious restraint” I respect. At the same time, I have no doubt that some people, both within the Communion and outside of it, would claim such an ordination as evidence that The Episcopal Church is insensitive and uncommitted to its sister churches in the Communion. I do not agree with this latter assessment.

As I suspect you have observed, I have a deep and unwavering commitment to remaining in full relationship with all the churches and communicants of the Anglican Communion. I believe that authenticity in relationship requires us to be genuine about who we are, living honestly into what we understand God is calling us to be in this day and the context in which we serve. As Christians we do not present ourselves honestly at the communion table when we leave part of who we are in the pew. As a diocese and a church we do not offer ourselves to God for missional and spiritual communion with others when we leave some of us behind in the aisle. For me, therefore, a significant issue in this consent process is the authenticity with which we continue to live in committed relationship with one another and with our Anglican sisters and brothers across the Communion.

Whenever it is that a majority of Standing Committees and Bishops with Jurisdiction consent to the ordination of another partnered gay or lesbian Christian as bishop (and I believe it is a matter of when), I will consider it as neither innovative nor prophetic, but an act of fidelity – to our understanding of what God is calling us to be, to all those whom God has called into The Episcopal Church, to those with whom God has called us into relationship around the world, and of course to God. It is my conviction that God will receive it as the same.

Please know that I am available and willing to speak further with any of you about this decision.

Gratefully,

The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr.
Bishop of Ohio