Resources

Claiming the Blessing Conference | St. Louis, Missouri: November 2002
The first initiative of CTB was a national conference, held in St. Louis Missouri in November 2002.

Part of the work in St. Louis was to vet a draft of a Theology Statement being prepared to make the case for blessings to the Episcopal Church when it gathered in its General Convention in Minneapolis 2003. The conference included worships, workshops and drew over 200 particpants from around the the church.

From the conference:
Read the report from  Episcopal News Service (ENS)
Michael Hopkins’ Message to the Church
Susan Russell’s sermon “A Persistent People”

Claiming the Blessing Theology Statement
Our theology statement was published in 2003 as a gift to the whole church to equip and inform the debate on the blessing of same-sex unions at the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis. Download the PDF here.

Here are some excerpts:
What does it mean for the church to give its blessing? — CTB Theology Committee
Biblical theology and the debate about rites of blessing — an interview with Walter Brueggemann
The Big House of Classical Anglicanism — William Countryman

General Convention 2003 | Minneapolis
One June 7, 2003 the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire elected the Reverend Canon V. Gene Robinson as their 9th bishop and Claiming the Blessing added obtaining consents to his election to our General Convention “to do” list.  The election of the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion dramatically increased the level of attention focused on the the Episcopal Church, resulting in an extraordinary media platform for the good news of God’s inclusive love.

The election of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor — [June 2003] Episcopal News Service
Deputies approve New Hampshire election — [July 2003] Episcopal News Service
Bishops approve New Hampshire election — [July 2003] Episcopal News Service
Review of General Convention 2003 — Religious Tolerance.org
The consecration of V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor — [November 2003] Episcopal News Service

Anglican Consultative Council | Nottingham 2005
To Set Our Hope on Christ — [PDF] Episcopal Church’s response to The Windsor Report
Making the Case for Full Inclusion — [July 2005] Los Angeles Times
More Unites Than Divides Episcopalians Tell ACC — [July 2005] Episcopal News Service
Listening Process Affirmed — [July 2005] Episcopal Life

General Convention 2006 | Columbus
Episcopal Church Elects First Woman Presiding Bishop — [June 2006] Episcopal News Service
Response to Windsor Report Call for Moratorium — [June 2006] Episcopal News Service
Feeding on the Bread of Anxiety — [June 2006] Katie Sherrod
Reflection on the End of GC2006 — [June 2006] Ed Bacon
Speaking of “My Manner of Life” — [July 2006] Susan Russell
After Columbus — [July 2006] Elizabeth Kaeton

Lambeth Conference 2008 | Canterbury
Report from Lambeth — PBS Religion & Ethics Weekly
Susan Russell’s Lambeth Conference Photo Blog
Post-Lambeth Reflections — [August 2008] Susan Russell
A Rainy Day in Canterbury — [August 2008] Katie Sherrod
Can we stay together? — [August 2008] Elizabeth Kaeton
Walking On Water — [August 2008] Susan Russell post-Lambeth sermon

General Convention 2009 | Anaheim
C056 – Develop Liturgies for Blessings — Acts of Convention Archives
The General Convention Wrap-up — [July 2009 | YouTube] Jim Dela
IntegriTV Wrap Up Video — [July 2009]
Legislative “Clean Sweep” in Anaheim — [July 2009] Susan Russell

General Convention 2012 | Indianapolis
A049 – Authorize Liturgical Resources for Blessing Same-Sex Relationships — Acts of Convention Archives
A050 – Create a Task Force on the Study of Marriage — Acts of Convention Archives

General Convention 2015 | Salt Lake City
Blue Book Report from the Task Force on the Study of Marriage — General Convention Blue Book Reports
Report from the Task Force on the Study of Marriage: Q&As  — Susan Russell’s Blog
Report from the SCLM (Standing Committee on Liturgy & Music) — General Convention Blue Book Reports
Claiming the Blessing 2015: The Case for Marriage — Claiming the Blessing reprises its 2002 “Theology Statement” making the case for Blessings with this 2015 version making the case for Marriage.
General Convention Approves Marriage Equality — Episcopal News Service (July 1, 2015)
When Justice Rolls Down: A Post General Convention Sermon — Susan Russell (July 12, 2015)

General Convention 2018 | Austin
Blue Book Report from the Task Force on the Study of Marriage — General Convention Blue Book Reports
Report from the Task Force on the Study of Marriage: Q&As
Claiming the Blessing 2018: Full & Equal Means Full & Equal — Claiming the Blessing resource making the case for ending sacramental apartheid in the eight dissenting dioceses refusing to provide access to marriage liturgies to same-sex couples.
Resolution B012 as adopted by the 79th General Convention
Convention lets “yes be yes” on Marriage — Episcopal News Service (July 13, 2018)
Episcopal Church Says “We Do” to Marriage Rites for the Whole Church — Susan Russell’s post-GC79 blog post on what was accomplished in Austin