Episcopal Church ordaining first openly lesbian bishop

[grantcart]

Source: CNN

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Despite objections from conservative Anglicans, the Episcopal Church will ordain its first openly lesbian bishop Saturday.

The Rev. Mary Glasspool, 56, becomes bishop surrounded by controversy.

Conservative factions in the Anglican Communion, a 77-million member denomination worldwide, have opposed the ordination of gay bishops.

Glasspool is the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church since Gene Robinson took office in New Hampshire in 2004. Episcopalians instituted a temporary ban on gay bishops after Robinson's ordination but revoked that ban last summer.

The daughter of a priest, Glasspool was one of two openly gay candidates on the slate in the Los Angeles diocese. She has said that her sexual orientation is "not an issue."

Bishop Jon Bruno of Los Angeles said Glasspool was a "highly qualified and experienced" cleric.

"She's not afraid of conflict and is a reconciler," Bruno said, according to the Episcopal Church website.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/15/episcopal.lesbian.bishop/index.html?hpt=T2

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Congratulations Bishop Glasspool

[cbayer]

1. Big K & R. Congratulation Bishop Glasspool!

:toast:

[marshall]

2. Does "openly lesbian" also mean "sexually active"?

When she says that her sexuality is not an issue, she may mean that she is celibate. So whether she is a lesbian or straight is not a factor in her ordination.

[brooklynite]

4. No, it means she plays shortstop...

[Demoiselle]

5. I believe she has a long-term live-in partner.

I got to know Mary Glasspool a little bit many years ago when she was the assistant pastor at a church I attended. She was admirably suited to the priesthood--warm, open, funny, very bright. Maybe most important, she clearly felt a lot of joy in her calling. Congratulations, Mary!

[Hekate]

12. That's what we need to hear! How lucky you got to meet Bishop Glasspool!

[grantcart]

6. She is being ordained with the knowledge of having a long term partner

He added that Glasspool and her partner of 19 years, Becki Sander, are an example of living service

[goclark]

14. Yes!

[RKP5637]

3. Yep!!! Congratulations Bishop Glasspool! n/t

[NJmaverick]

7. K&R

[The Damned]

8. Episcopal Church Consecrates First Openly Lesbian Bishop

Source: CNN

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- The Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly lesbian bishop Saturday in the face of objections from some conservative Anglicans.

The Rev. Mary Glasspool, 56, is a new bishop surrounded by controversy.

Conservative factions in the Anglican Communion, a 77 million-member denomination worldwide that includes the Episcopal Church, have opposed the ordination of gay bishops.

Glasspool is the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church since Gene Robinson took office in New Hampshire in 2004. Episcopalians instituted a temporary ban on gay bishops after Robinson's ordination but revoked that ban last summer.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/05/15/episcopal.lesbian.bishop/index.html?hpt=T2

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No comment permitted.

[Meeker Morgan]

9. Whoopie. Another fucking Jesus ventriloquist.

Yeah that's progress all right.

Equal access to salaried jobs as con artists.

[Hekate]

11. whoopee another kneejerk hostile remark; what did Episcopalians ever do to you?

:shrug:

[Meeker Morgan]

13. God is on their side? Fuck 'em.

Who needs comforting lies?

[Hekate]

10. KnR. The Anglican Communion may be headed for a schism, but the Episcopal branch (US) is right

Parts of this denomination are trying desperately to hold women back -- they didn't want women ordained in the first place, and in other significant ways their conservatism simply hearkens back to an imaginary simpler time (where you didn't have to think about such things, one presumes).

Some churches in the US and England and afaik all of them in Africa are having a hard time with the 20th century, much less the 21st. That's where the schism will come from.

In the mean time, the Episcopal Church is moving forward, and I applaud them for that.

Hekate