“... homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church...”

The above statement was made by the delegates (lay people, priests and bishops) to the 65th [1985] General Convention of the national Episcopal Church regarding lesbians and gay men.

Because of the racial, economic, political and theological diversity within the Episcopal Church, the Church is not always of "one mind" on the many issues it faces. The Episcopal Church reflects the turmoil of the real world we live in. The Church attempts to struggle sincerely and openly with divisive issues in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While the Church as a national institution upholds the place of lesbians and gay men in the life of the Christian community (see the quote above), that may not always be the experience of gay people in every congregation. There is also an ongoing debate over the ordination of lesbians and gay men to the priesthood and the blessing of covenant relationships. Nonetheless, many Episcopal Christian communities welcome gay people into the full fellowship of the Church, some celebrate “the Blessing of Covenantal Relationships,” some have comprehensive AIDS/HIV ministries, and some bishops ordain gay men and lesbians to the priesthood.