Today at the General Convention of The Episcopal Church the House of Deputies approved rites for same-sex blessings.

Resolution A049, which was approved by the House of Bishops on Monday, allows same gender couples to make a vow, exchange rings and be declared "bound to one another in a holy covenant, as long as they both shall live."

The Rev. Paul J. Lebens-Englund, canon to the ordinary for the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, is at the convention in Indianapolis and said in an email interview that until now same-sex blessings have been allowed in the Episcopal Church, but have not had a, “normative church-wide liturgy that all diocese share in common.”

“This liturgy is yet another means by which to bind the church together in common mind and practice,” he said. “On the challenging side, of course, is that we know well that our common mind is not the same as a unanimous mind and, so, one of the resolves included within the larger resolution includes a conscience clause.”

The conscience clause states no bishop, priest, deacon or lay person would be penalized for refusing to bless same-sex couples.

In the House of Deputies, 78 percent of lay voters and 76 percent of clergy, voted to approve the resolution.

The rite is authorized for use beginning the first Sunday of Advent, Dec. 2.

Also at the convention, the church gave a nod to the transgender community by adding gender identity and expression to its non-discrimination canons.

“This is, again, a fundamental expression of the Anglican/Episcopal commitment to Christ's Incarnation — not just that the Incarnation has 'redeemed' flesh, but that it has rendered flesh 'revelatory.' That is, our bodies, our affection, our intimacies, and our sexualities (not to mention pretty much everything else) in all their wonderful and life-giving diversity can reveal God's presence and grace to the world,” Lebens-Englund said.

Spokanites attending the convention are blogging about it here.