This time it’s the House of Deputies, making a statement on gay marriage and calling on all Episcopalians to buy their politics:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That this 76th General Convention call on Congress to repeal the so-called “Defense of Marriage” statute passed on September 21, 1996 [Public Law No. 104-199, 110 Stat. 2419, codified at 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738C]; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention call on all Episcopalians to work against the passage of so-called “Defense of Marriage” state statutes and state constitutional amendments, and, in states where such statutes or constitutional amendments already exist, to work for their repeal. [Emphasis added.]

I actually have no problem with them passing a resolution like this. The subject of marriage is obviously within the purview of the church, and far more integral to its mission than lots of the stuff that such gatherings typically weigh in on. I obviously disagree with their position, but that’s not the problem. The problem is that, as at least one deputy from Massachusetts recognized, there are lots of Episcopalians who have serious moral qualms about endorsing gay marriage, much less working against defense of marriage statutes, and the presence of the word “all” affords no recognition of that. According to Stand Firm‘s Sarah Hey, said deputy called for a reconsideration of the resolution on that basis. No word yet on whether the assembly has done so.