The Episcopal Church’s Task Force on the Study of Marriage has mapped out its work for the next triennium.

The Task Force, at its recent first meeting, addressed its charge from Resolution A037 from the 2015 General Convention. The Rev. Brian Taylor, chair, commented, “Once again, our charge is quite challenging, as we have been asked to look at a wide variety of relationships and households other than marriage that currently make up one half of our society and church, using a broad range of disciplines, methodologies, and perspectives.”

He continued, “At the same time, we are charged with the exploration of particular issues regarding marriage: specifically, the impact of same-sex marriage on our church, and the relationship between church and state in performing weddings.”

The Task Force divided its work into four working groups that will:

• consult with and listen to people living some of the “changing trends and norms” that Resolution A037 asked the task force to examine;
• study and write short documents about marriage and other relationships using various disciplines, and solicit responses to them from a range of perspectives;
• monitor the impact of same-sex marriage upon congregations, The Episcopal Church, and Anglican and ecumenical partners;
• promote the use of the Dearly Beloved Toolkit (both text and PowerPoint slides available here) and Essays for congregational and diocesan conversation and monitor the ongoing discussion about the relationship between the church and the state in regard to weddings. 

Taylor pointed out that an important aspect of this triennium’s effort by the task force is “the breadth of perspective in our work that is so clearly mandated by General Convention. This is much on our minds, in terms of our membership itself, and in terms of the points of view to be studied and written about, people to be consulted with, and feedback to be sought from individuals, ecumenical partners, and other parts of the Anglican Communion. We take this mandate very seriously, for it is within our diversity that we both find our strength and live out our unity in Christ.”

For current information and to offer input, visit the task force’s Facebook page             

Members

The Rev. Brian C. Taylor, Diocese of Rio Grande,    Chair

Joan Geiszler-Ludlum, Diocese of East Carolina, Vice Chair           

The Rev. Philip Dinwiddie, Diocese of Michigan, Secretary

The Rev. Stannard Baker, Diocese of            Vermont

James Ellis, Diocese of Montana                   

Bishop Thomas Ely, Diocese of Vermont

The Rev. Gianetta Hayes-Martin, Diocese of California                   

The Rev. Jordan Hylden, Diocese of Upper South Carolina 

The Rev. Dr. Ruth Meyers, Diocese of California    

Bishop Steven Miller, Diocese of Milwaukee

The Rev. Humphrey Paulino, Diocese of Venezuela             

The Rev. Susan Russell, Diocese of Los Angeles

Deborah Stokes, Diocese of Southern Ohio              

Bishop Brian Thom, Diocese of Idaho

Melodie Woerman, Diocese of Kansas

For more info, comments or questions, contact Taylor, bctaylor@me.com.