“Man and woman” replaced by “couple”

Members of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah on 29 June 2015 endorsed an ammended version of resolution A036, Amend Canon 1.18 Marriage. By a vote of 129 in favorm 26 opposed and 5 abstentians, the bishops endorsed a change to the canons governing the persons and purposes of marriage. References to “man and woman” were replaced by “couples”. Concerns the change to the canon would place it in conflict with the Constitution and Book of Common Prayer which retains the words “man and woman” were rejected by the committee bringing the bill, noting the vote to creat Trial Rites allowed the church to go forward with two, conflicting, doctrines of marriage.

Complete report follows.