The three Episcopal bishops in North Carolina published a letter to Episcopal clergy across the state explaining why they oppose Amendment One. Bishop Michael Curry (North Carolina), Bishop Clifton Daniel (East Carolina), and Bishop Porter Taylor (Western North Carolina) signed the joint letter to clarify their stance against the amendment and to encourage clergy to plan for possible effects if the amendment passes.
We oppose Amendment One because the love of God and the way of love that has been revealed in Jesus of Nazareth compels us to do so. We oppose Amendment One because every time we baptize someone in the Episcopal Church, the entire congregation vows to ‘strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.’ We oppose Amendment One because it is unjust and it does not respect the dignity of every human being in the state of North Carolina. If passed, it will harm not only law-abiding gay and lesbian citizens but other men, women and innocent children in our state.
The letter and related Amendment 1 resources from the Diocese of North Carolina are
online here. Folks may find this either useful in discussions with people for whom this is a religious question or interesting for the insight they give into a perspective that doesn't get press.
The national Episcopal Church publicly supports measures to extend equal benefits and protections to gay and lesbian couples and opposes all state or constitutional amendments that prohibit same-sex civil marriage or civil unions.