This is a web version of the ECUSA General Convention Daily. Anglicans Online has produced this web version, from the official PDF edition, for your reading convenience. Other days' issues are here.

'Heterosexism' resolution sparks questions, scrutiny

A resolution that included a call for a pastoral study guide on "heterosexism" was incorporated into another resolution and subjected to a vote by orders July 7. The results of the vote were not announced by the end of the day.

Resolution B008 was incorporated into C008 by the special committee on sexuality; an amendment changed the source of the study group from the House of Bishops to a joint committee. While the rest of C008, calling for "mutual sharing, study and discernment concerning human sexuality" was passed, the heterosexism portion went to the vote by orders.

The term "heterosexism" as a "systemic form of injustice" raised questions at a briefing earlier in the day. The term also drew fire from conservative members of the church in hearings held by the special committee this week. Ian Douglas, a briefing officer and professor of world mission at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., described heterosexism in terms of power relations and the privilege enjoyed by heterosexual people in society.

"As a straight, white male, I assume I have an unearned backpack of privilege that affords me power and access at the expense of those who are `the other,"' said Douglas. The "other" he defined as those who suffer oppression because of the privileges enjoyed by those in power. Briefing officers stressed that heterosexism is not synonymous with homophobia, the "irrational fear of the other," but is a systemic injustice that involves power and privilege being exercised, for the most part unconsciously, he said.

Bishop Chester Talton of the Diocese of Los Angeles clarified that a critique of heterosexism does not imply that being heterosexual is sinful. The sin comes "in the use of an inordinate power over others," he said. Power is the common denominator among all systemic forms of oppression, he added.

Based on reports by Episcopal News Service.

This web page is a converted copy of information from the ECUSA General Convention Daily, produced by the staff of Episcopal Life for people at General Convention 2000. If you have any issue with its content, please refer to the original. Many times we later find better-quality photographs than those from the Convention Daily, and we replace the original photographs with them if we believe that they are equivalent for the purposes of the story.

Anglicans Online is not affiliated with Episcopal Life, ECUSA, or any other official part of the church. It is not official in any way. Our staff is private and unaffiliated. Please contact (none) for more information.