Can a divorced person expect equal treatment in the Episcopal Church?

The following was submitted by a visitor to my Episcopal FAQ’s site. Her questions are in plain type, and my answers follow below in italics.
What is the position of the Episcopal Church on divorce today?
While the Episcopal Church believes that marriage is a sacrament intended to be life-long, the Church recognizes that situations exist where civil divorce or annullments are necessary. Before legal action is taken, one or both of the parties involved should bring the matter up to a member of the clergy. The priest’s duty is to protect and promote the couples’ physical and emotional safety first, and then try to reconcile them if possible. Civil divorce may be undertaken if reconciliation is not possible, and anyone who is divorced may write to the Bishop in the diocese where the marriage was solemnized for a judgement on the validity of the marriage. A person who has been divorced may be remarried in the Episcopal Church if there is legal evidence that both parties’ previous marriages were annulled or dissolved by a civil court (such as a divorce decree), both parties are aware that concern must still be shown for their former spouses and any children who are a result of that marriage, and approval is given by the diocesan bishop.
Are divorced persons treated equally to couples and/or those never married? Is their treatment different from widows/widowers?
Divorced people are treated the same as anyone else. Every person baptized with water in the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is welcome to communion, regardless of marital status. Divorcees are not excommunicated.
Anyone is welcome to participate in fellowship activities, and many parishes have special groups for singles, divorced, and widowed people.
Although a few individuals may be critical of divorced people, this is not typical of Episcopalians. In general, a divorced person can expected to be treated with great kindness and no condemnation. Many churches now offer divorce care groups.
Is there a service for dissolving a marriage? Or are both parties sinners for breaking a sacrament?
There is no church-sanctioned service for dissolving a marriage, however this has nothing to do with either party being seen as sinful for initiating a divorce. A friend gave his permission to use his quote: “In our understanding of marriage, the Church doesn’t actually “marry” the couple, but instead gives her blessing. Since the marriage is actually something that God creates, the Church can’t ‘dissolve’ the marriage. This is why God has not given us the authority to develop this type of service”
One option that may be beneficial for both people who have been through a divorce is the sacrament of healing, and many churches offer healing services on a regular basis. Another option is to talk to the rector of your local Episcopal church and see if he/she has any ideas about this. Most priests should be able help you through this in a way that affirms traditional teaching about divorce without causing any further pain. If anyone has any feelings of shame or guilt after going through a divorce, private confession is also an option. This can be a very healing experience.
With a few very rare exceptions, anyone divorced person entering the Episcopal Church can expect to be treated in a compassionate, non-judgemental way.
I’d like to offer a special thank-you to Kit Tobin who approached me with these questions for my FAQ’s page.
©2001 by Amanda Demers.