First they consecrate an openly gay bishop. Next they elect the first female leader in the religion’s history. Clearly, changes are afoot inside the Episcopal Church — but likely only in the U.S. In Europe and Africa, meanwhile, things aren’t looking so liberal. Which is why America’s sect of the Anglican Communion could soon see itself split from the rest of the world.
When Katherine Jefferts Schori was elected Sunday to become head of the 2.2 million member U.S. denomination, shock waves were felt throughout the church. Not only is she a woman, she’s pro-gay; she gave Gene Robinson her vote to help him become the New Hampshire leader three years ago.
But this liberal series of changes is, according to all accounts, creating a “schism” (every journalist’s favorite word here) inside the 77 million member church. Outside the U.S., and particularly in Africa, Schori’s acceptance of gays in the church seems to be the paramount problem. And because of her acceptance of all people, the church is on the verge of splitting into two distinct groups. Some say it already has.
Anglicans face gloomy prediction of schism [Reuters]
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Will
Speaking of trannies . . .
william
my wife and i were members of the church untill the gay guy came along .now there is a fight over a woman bishop.
so in plain language …fuck the God damn church
Michael
I was an Episcopal priest for years until I couldn’t take the hate and division over me being gay. I have seen that there is so little good that religion does compared to its evil, that I have renounced all religion as next to worthless. I am now happy for the first time in years. I am an atheist and pleased with my life.
sst
the episcopal church is turning into a cult. i was a member and a lay reader for 40 years. when in 2003 the ordination of gene robinson was approved by 63 bishops,
the church true colours became very clear.
it proved to me the hipocricy of the episcopa lchurh of teaching one thing and doing another. voting gene robinson as a bishop is like giving the keys of the treasury to a thief who is the guardian of the same. i went back to my roots back to the greek orthodox church. what a relief.
Ian
I was quite saddened by the comments on this post. In particular by Michael, who appears to have left the Episcopal Church because of people like those others who have left negative comments.
Might I remind or inform those negative commentators that during the early years of the Christian Church, when it was founded by the same Apostles who had known and understood Jesus Christ’s teachings, women were equal and active members of the Church, being preachers, prophets and evangelisers, as well as members of the congregation? All this was endorsed and encouraged by those same Apostles and Disciples. It wasn’t until later that the patriarchs of the Roman empire, once the Church had grown more accepted in the empire, banned women from being fully active participants in the religion they followed.
Oh, and while I’m at it, and in terms of gay men and women, when the Apostles were preaching Christianity to the Gentiles there was a debate about it whether the Christian Church should be open to none-jewish members, of whom includes all members of Christianity. This was done in terms known as the ‘circumcision debate’. St Paul and St James (who was head of the Christian church, if it wasn’t actually Mary Magdalene who was leader) agreed that it could. Gentiles aren’t bound by the jewish laws cited in Leviticus, where the main ‘biblical’ prohibition of homosexuality and prostitution are contained. Or if I’m wrong, and we are (or should be), then we’d better all stop eating bacon and shellfish and all go kosher pretty damn quick.
Clark
I’m confused as to why William and sst are reading queerty.com. “Until the gay guy came along”? Are you serious? You homophobe, you’re on a gay blog. As for sst and his “hipocrasy” [sic] comment, a gay bishop is nothing new; one who is honest and open is. In my mind a closted clergyman who never grows into a healthy sexuality is the definition of hypocrisy. But good to hear you went elsewhere. Homophobes.
KJ
The election of Eugene Robinson and now Bishop Schori, does show the Episcopal Church’s true colors and LACK of hypocrisy and that is a GREAT and unfortunately, RARE THING! I did not grow up in the denomination, but have found myself there after needing to leave my evangelical roots where it is stated that all are welcome just as they are, but in fact, that is not the practice (i.e., you need to change who you are and agree with very specific doctrinal statements, and if you do not, you cannot join or be a member).
Most, not all, of the Episcopal Church on the other hand, teaches and lives a welcome to all and leaves to God where each of us are on our faith journey. The basic tenets of that faith are recognized and celebrated at the Eucharist. Those basic tenets have not changed through millennia; what has changed is the church’s recognition of those who have been inadvertently or intentionally excluded by religion and humankind’s lack of grace.
william
oh well made a mistake
but the church still sucks
but then again so do you guys lol
dc-20008
Well of course we do. But that’s another matter.
My partner’s Uncle is an Epicopal Bishop. He is very open minded re. his nephew and me. He was against Gene Robinson becoming a Bishop, not for zealotry, but for what he truly believes in terms of scripture.
I am not religious and think it is all rather silly, but to each his own. The Episcopal church will weather this like all other churches…
L. N.
Sorry Katherine,YOU ARE SO WRONG. Those that are in what I call,the gay-brigade it is WRONG!! It is an Abomination to Almighty God. Man shall NOT lye with man & woman shall Not lye with woman. And now,you being a so called bishop of a church makes it all the more gross, in the which a woman has NO place to be in the first place. But Katharine,thank God there is still hope for you & ALL the others that are of this Gross,Imoral, Perverted,& Sick way of life. REPENT & recieve Acts ch 2 & v’s 37-39 & the Whole lot of God’s Word to live up to. If you & All of those that are like you in this imoral lifestyle does Not repent,then what needs to be done is,that there should be a Sodom & Gomorah experience for you & All of those like you,just like it happened in the Old-Testament. Fire & brimstone was rained out of heaven by Almighty God & destroyed All of them, because they would Not repent. Prevent your soul from distruction & recieve God’s Plan of Salvation,it’s your & All the others like you,their choice also. Thank you.
Eric S. Arts
You poor pathetic boob, L.N. I’m willing to bet money you believed in Santa Claus until you were about twelve, your parents are lower middle-class, and that as long as you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, you’re going to heaven and will live for eternity singing with glee as you walk streets paved with gold because you’re no longer accountable for your own stupidity.
The only abomination here is you and your pathetic, unintelligent, self-righteous babble. Maybe if you scream a little louder, it’ll all come true and then you won’t have anything to worry about. Enjoy the ride, fucklick.