In 1976 the Episcopal Church promised “full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the Church” to its gay and lesbian members. In the decades since, we have seen many milestones along the way in the journey toward making that resolution a reality — not only for gay and lesbian Episcopalians but for all LGBTQ+ people. But we are not there yet.

Full and equal claim means full and equal claim — and it is time to end the exclusion of a percentage of the baptized from a percentage of the sacraments by acting to end once-and-for-all the discrimination against the marriages of same-sex couples that still exists in some parts of the Episcopal Church.

As we countdown to the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (July 5-14) we prepare — once again — to continue the work of “claiming the blessing” by advocating for legislation that will ensure equal access to all the sacraments for all people.

Click here for a PDF of “Full & Equal Means Full & Equal” — with background on the proposed resolution and stories from dioceses where sacramental marriage is still not equally available to all Episcopalians. It is time to “let our yes be yes” (Matthew 5:37). It is time for full inclusion.