Blessing (of non-married people) authorized.Topeka, Kan. (ENS) -- Bishop William Smalley of Kansas has told clergy that he will begin authorizing limited blessing of non-married people. This policy would extend to heterosexual couples for whom marriage would create a financial hardship, and to homosexual couples. Bishop Smalley said the blessing is not to be a substitute for holy matrimony MATRIMONY. See Marriage. and may not resemble it liturgically li·tur·gi·cal also li·tur·gic adj. 1. Of, relating to, or in accordance with liturgy: a book of liturgical forms. 2. Using or used in liturgy. , He said he based his decision on the action of General Convention in 2000 in adopting a resolution that acknowledged that some church members were living in life-long committed relationships A committed relationship is an interpersonal relationship based upon a mutually agreed upon commitment to one another involving exclusivity, honesty, or some other agreed upon behavior. outside of marriage. He said he believes offering the church's blessing to such couples is part of that acknowledgement. Bishop Smalley also noted the church now permits divorced people to remarry remarry Verb [-ries, -rying, -ried] to marry again following a divorce or the death of one's previous spouse remarriage n Verb 1. . He said he does not believe he is departing from Scripture. |
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