EPISCOPAL BISHOP BLESSES A GAY COUPLE

By Julia Duin

The Washington Times

The bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington conducted a blessing service for one of the country's top homosexual rights advocates and his partner while protesters stood outside holding crosses draped in black fabric.

One day after appearing on worldwide television as one of the lead participants in the funeral for former President Ronald Reagan at the National Cathedral, Bishop John B. Chane officiated at a 90-minute ceremony for the Rev. Michael W. Hopkins, 43, and his partner, John Clinton Bradley, 44.

About 180 people at St. George's Episcopal Church in Glenn Dale gave the two men a lengthy standing ovation after the bishop pronounced a "blessing of the covenant" and the two men embraced and kissed. Mr. Hopkins, pastor at St. George's, served as national president of Integrity, the Episcopal homosexual caucus, for five years.

"You know, for me, this is not something unusual to do," said the bishop, dressed in ornate gold-and-white vestments. "The church has been gathering to honor covenant relationships since the beginning of its written history."

For him, "blessed covenant relationships" are "as normal as walking in and out of church on Sunday morning."

The ceremony marked the premiere of a new diocesan rite for same-sex blessings, developed by a task force co-chaired by Mr. Hopkins. It began with a "covenant hymn" set to the tune of "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus," a traditional church Advent hymn.

It culminated with the two men taking each other by the hand and pledging to each other a "covenant with you before God and the church." Mr. Hopkins briefly choked up as he said his vow. The ceremony included a blessing of the rings already on both men's fingers as they stretched their hands toward the bishop. Both men wore dark suits and leis.

The Rev. Susan Russell, current chairwoman of Integrity, delivered the sermon, calling the proceedings "that which is natural, infinite, and yes."

"It was a huge honor," she said about her role in the ceremony. "Michael and John Clinton are beloved friends of mine, and I was overwhelmed to be asked to preach at their wedding."

The ceremony, which attracted at least a dozen clergy, was followed by a reception featuring lavender cloth-covered tables and purple orchid centerpieces. Outside, seven protesters issued a statement saying Bishop Chane acted "against the unequivocal witness of Scripture."

"It grieves us that, as the bishop of this diocese, whose obligation is to guard the faith and unity of the church, he would so publicly and willingly violate the clear and consistent teaching of the Bible," the statement read.

Same-sex unions and homosexual clergy have been allowed for years in the Diocese of Washington, which lists 14 homosexual "marriages" in its clergy directory.

This was not the first time the two men had engaged in a blessing rite. The 2003 Episcopal Clerical Directory lists Mr. Hopkins as being "married" to Mr. Bradley on April 4, 1992.

Conservatives scheduled a simultaneous evening prayer service at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Bladensburg to protest the same-sex ceremony.

This blessing was the first time a bishop has conducted such a service in the 40,000-member diocese and only the second time a sitting U.S. Episcopal bishop had done so.

On May 16, Los Angeles Bishop Jon Bruno officiated at a union between the Rev. Malcolm Boyd, 80, author of the best-selling "Are You Running With Me, Jesus?" and his partner, Mark Thompson.