Episcopal Church Moves to End Ban on Gay Bishops

[babylonsister]

Episcopal Church Moves to End Ban on Gay Bishops

By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: July 14, 2009

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The bishops of the Episcopal Chresurch voted at the church’s convention on Monday to open “any ordained ministry” to gay men and lesbians, a move that could effectively undermine a moratorium on ordaining gay bishops that the church passed at its last convention three years ago.

The resolution passed on Monday was written in a way that would allow dioceses to consider gay candidates to the episcopacy, but does not mandate that all dioceses do so.

A similar measure was passed on Sunday by the church’s other legislative body, the House of Deputies, which is made up of laypeople and clergy. On Tuesday, the bishops’ version will probably go back to the House of Deputies for reconsideration.

The resolution, if approved, would probably add to the strife in the Anglican Communion, the world’s third largest family of Christian churches, of which the Episcopal Church is the American branch.

The battle over homosexuality in the Episcopal Church has been watched closely by other mainline Protestant churches that are also divided internally on the issue. Many are looking to the Episcopal Church as a bellwether that could foretell whether their denominations can survive the storm over homosexuality intact.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/us/15episcopal.html?_r=1

[BlooInBloo]

1. \o/

[Wapsie B]

2. Good, now let the Lutherans finally confront the issue

rather than tap-dancing around it. Put it to a yes/no vote and let the chips fall where they may.

[struggle4progress]

7. We'll see what happens in Minneapolis in August

[madamesilverspurs]

3. Spent a day last week in Denver

at St.John's Cathedral, taking pictures for a photo montage we're preparing for Mom's 90th birthday. She grew up in that church, and met Dad at a serviceman's canteen operated by the church during WWII. They were married there and baptized the kids there before the family relocated. Dad was Episcopalian until he died at 92. Mom is still active in her parish.

I roamed the hallways, looked at the photo archives and picked up some printed 'current events' stuff to tuck into the package I'll be sending to Mom. The difference between "then" and now is striking, most especially in the numbers of female clergy; that change really upset Dad, although he eventually became quite fond of the female priest at their church in Washington, so much so that he requested that she preside at his service.

Having grown up in a very conservative home, where certain things were never discussed and others were spoken of in hushed terms, it was a delightful surprise when the bishop who had presided at my confirmation was arrested and went to jail with MLK. At our summer church camp, our favorite teacher was Malcolm Boyd. When I was small, Paul Roberts was Dean of the cathedral, and he was a very active pacifist; he was very much a dad to my mother who never knew her own father, and his son was one of her childhood friends. With all that, at home we were always cautioned against 'rocking the boat' - go figure.

The cathedral church is apparently very welcoming to the gay community. When I read that I immediately remember hearing Dean Roberts' commentary on the vestments he wore: "They dress you like Mother, but call you Father."

[babylonsister]

4. That photo montage sounds really nice and am sure will be much

appreciated. Your description 'he was a very active pacifist' made me smile, as did "They dress you like Mother, but call you Father."

[Vidar]

5. Good for them. Used to be member.

[TexasObserver]

6. Recommend

[Odin2005]

8. K&R