The response of Lawrence’s Episcopal priests was mixed Tuesday to news that the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas in Topeka will begin authorizing limited blessings of non-married couples, whether homosexuals or heterosexuals, for whom marriage would be a financial hardship.

Bishop William Smalley’s decision, announced Monday, is premature and will only serve to divert the church’s attention from its primary role, said the Rev. Darrel Proffitt, pastor of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 5700 W. Sixth St.

“The Episcopal Church is becoming more and more a congregational church, which means any policy a bishop does or does not make has little or no effect on a local congregation. The issue of sexuality is a divisive one I feel distracts many churches from the mission of spreading the Gospel of Jesus,” Proffitt said.

“We at St. Margaret’s recommit ourselves to the basic mission of the church: spreading the good news that God has brought salvation to the world through Jesus Christ. The bishop of Kansas can do whatever he wants. His policy has no impact on us.”

Proffitt questioned why Smalley would choose to bring up this issue before there was a wide sense of agreement on it among lay people and Episcopal priests.

“It’s too divisive. There’s no consensus in the church about this. I feel that making a decision on his own is very problematic, given that fact,” Proffitt said.

“We (at St. Margaret’s) accept people of all shapes, sizes, colors and orientations. We accept them, and we want to help them into a deeper relationship with God. But we don’t want to be distracted by these highly divisive issues, and we won’t be.”

The Rev. Peter Oesterlin, interim rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vt., sees Smalley’s decision as less problematic.

“The bottom line is that each congregation, together with their priest and bishop, (will) decide what they’re going to do. No one is ordered to do this. That includes developing a plan as to how to arrange this blessing, or not to do this blessing,” he said.

Like Proffitt, Oesterlin also expressed some doubts about whether a consensus has developed yet on this issue among the Episcopalian laity and leadership.

“I have seen relationships among homosexuals and lesbians that are just incredibly good, and I certainly don’t look down on that. But whether we’re ready to make a blanket statement about blessing all homosexual relationships, I’m not sure.”

No definite plans have been made at Trinity Episcopal in response to Smalley’s decision, Oesterlin said.

“This could be a very divisive issue, and there will probably be churches who will go ahead and do this. At this point, it’s under review at Trinity. We don’t know. That’s what we’re telling our people.”