That was a fun little jaunt into the world of artificial love affairs, but let’s return to the real world and check in on the ever-exciting drama of the Episcopal Church.
For those of you not keeping score, the Anglican derivative has been torn asunder over whether or not homos have a place in their pews. While the debate goes back many-a-year, things got even more hectic after the 2003 consecration of the openly-gay bishop, Gene Robinson.
Since then, dozens of churches have come out for and against gays. In the most recent turn of events, there have been two divergent developments. 365 Gay reports:
The diocese of Dallas on Saturday narrowly voted against a motion to split from the US branch of Anglicanism but agreed to look at the issue in a year’s time.
The diocese, meeting in convention, has “only delayed the inevitable” said one clergyman who supported an immediate split. A survey commissioned by Bishop James Stanton of priests and lay leaders in the diocese released shortly before the vote showed more than half believe the Church is moving in the wrong direction, 42 percent wanted their parishes out of the denomination, and almost a third wanted to remove the word “Episcopal” from the church signs, letterheads and literature.
The results of said survey highlight just how deep the spiritual split runs. As if that’s not enough, leaders in Conneticut have given their priests the go-ahead to bless homo unions.
The decision, by Bishop Andrew Smith, ignores a non-binding resolution passed in June at the Episcopal Church National General Convention that called for a moratorium on such services and for the bishops to “exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration” of openly gay clergy.
“At the heart of the matter is whether we as a Church will welcome and embrace, serve with and care for and bless persons who are homosexual and partnered as cherished and fully accepted members of the body of Christ,” Smith said during Saturd ay speech at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford at the diocese’s annual convention.
As if you’re not smart enough to figure it out: the more conservative followers are not pleased and call the move “defiant.”
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.
You know what? We think this entire thing’s stupid. Why not just have a good ol’ fashioned holy war and decide who wins?
Previously: Church Fissure Growing
Canon Richard T. Nolan
“Torn asunder?” Good grief, no. About 10% of the Episcopal Church’s clergy and laity are hysterical about a number of things – including LGBTQ issues. Retired now in West Palm Beach, I’m a retired Episcopal priest who recently celebrated 51 years together with my partner; we’re both New England cradle Episcopalians and met in college when we were 18. We’ve been out for decades within the Church and elsewhere, and there’s been no hassle whatsoever. The current noise occurs periodically: when the Prayer Book was revised, when women were ordained, and so on. Regards, Richard Nolan [Visit us as http://www.nolan-pingpank.com/.%5D