Episcopal Church leaders vote to allow ordination of homosexual bishops

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Presiding Episcopal Bishop Kathleen Jefferts Schori

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Anaheim, Calif., Jul 15, 2009 / 01:44 pm (CNA).- Turmoil in the Anglican Communion appears set to increase following Episcopal Church leaders’ approval of a resolution to ordain homosexual bishops. The new decision dismisses an earlier call by Anglican leaders to maintain a moratorium on the practice.

The vote on the resolution took place at the Episcopal Church’s General Convention in Anaheim, California on Tuesday.

The resolution itself said “God has called and may call such individuals (gay or lesbians), to any ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church.” It said Episcopalians included “same-sex couples living in lifelong committed relationships characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God.”

The convention’s House of Deputies passed the resolution with 72 percent of the vote. It reportedly also passed the House of Bishops by a wide margin.

Three years ago, the convention passed a resolution which urged dioceses to “exercise restraint” in consecrating practicing homosexuals as bishops and also placed a moratorium on the practice.

Nancy Davidge, a spokeswoman for the Episcopal Church, said the latest resolution does not address the issue of same-sex “marriage,” Reuters reports.

According to the Episcopal News Service, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the highest-ranking clergyman in the Church of England, commented on the resolution before its final approval.

“I regret the fact that the will to observe a moratorium is not the will of such a significant part of the church in North America,” he said during a question-and-answer session following his Monday address to the Church of England’s General Synod.

Questions about theology, the authority of Scripture, sexual ethics, the ordination of women and homosexuals and other issues have split the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the 80 million-member Anglican Communion.

Ian Douglas, one of the Episcopal Church’s House of Deputies, told Reuters that the resolution confirmed the church’s “commitment to nondiscrimination.” He also said there is “no desire” within the Episcopal Church to “leave the Anglican fold.”

However, many Anglican Churches of other countries have broken communion with the two million-member Episcopal Church.

Others are breaking from the Episcopal Church itself. Last month, former Episcopalians formed the Anglican Church in North America, which now claims 100,000 members.

Jeff Walton, the Institute on Religion and Democracy’s Director of Anglican Action, commented on the resolution. He said it shows that the Episcopal Church “wants to remain at the table, but only on its own terms.”

"In the Anglican Communion, 22 out of 37 other provinces are already in a state of either impaired or broken communion with the Episcopal Church. This move by the Episcopal Church will further widen their effective separation from the bulk of worldwide Anglicans.

"The Episcopal Church understands that by abandoning scriptural authority it is cutting itself off from the Anglican Communion. As an autonomous church, it has that choice, now it must live with the consequences," Walton said.

Comments: 15

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Marco Bell
New Orleans, LA 07/29/2009 10:40 AM EST

Wow! The Catholic Church is the ONLY church? Every other 'church' is a LIE and PERVERSION? Jesus!!! How more prejudiced can one be? Organized religion is the first downfall of God's plan for Love and Compassion, the Roman Catholic Church being one of the more perverse and cruel(of 'the organization'). Get over it, and learn to love as Jesus, Ghandi, the Buddha, etc. had proclaimed. You're not going to come out of this (life) alive, at least not physiologically.
Peace be upon you.

Published by: MC
Winston-Salem, NC 07/21/2009 03:33 PM EST

This is a total outrage and failure to understand event he basics of scripture. Condoning sin at this level! Terrible! May God have mercy upon them and save them from their own evil hearts.

Published by: Robertz
KY,USA 07/20/2009 11:14 AM EST

R, Schori was never a priest to begin with, let alone a bishop. It is not possible for a female to receive Holy Orders just as it is not possible for a marriage to exist between those of the same sex. Today, valid Holy Orders can only be found in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.

Orthodox, you may find this website informative and may clarify many 'differences' that are not really differences between the two

Published by: Fr. Francis
US/Portugal 07/18/2009 08:51 AM EST

This is deeply saddening. The Catholic Church-- that is, the Church founded by Christ and directly descendant through Apostolic Succession, was first split by human sinfulness into Est and West a thousand years ago; 500 years ago the Western Church again was split by human sin into the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion, which maintained Apostolic Succession and the Holy Eucharist, and the constantly-splitting mass of Protestant sects. To have the US branch of Anglicanism schism from the already-broken Body of Christ, purely out of the sin of pride (the "we're rich Americans and always know best" attitude) is a reminder that we are called to be in the world but not of the world. The US Episcopal Church has firmly aligned itself with worldly values, and finally and firmly abandoned the Catholic faith, whatever they may claim. This should be a matter of real grief for all those who still believe in the Body of Christ as descended from the Apostles, with its 2000 years of tradition and faith. Being rich white Americans doesn't make you the arbiter of God's will, whatever some may claim. That's simply the sin of pride. It's all very, very sad.

Published by: Dan
Omaha, NE 07/16/2009 02:03 PM EST

RE: Posted Comments
Typical vitriol hurled by RCC when a church or group doesn't agree with their dogma - Lump them all into the apostate/sinners category and go on with your holier-then-thou lifestyle. I wish you could see how bigoted you sound.

Published by: Pratt
California 07/16/2009 12:10 PM EST

Since when has anyone other than God had the authority to pass judgement? Last I heard...eveyone should be learning religion, not just heterosexuals. Did you think maybe God wants them to be there?

Published by: dAVID LARSEN
scituate Mass 07/16/2009 06:00 AM EST

God's laws were set in STONE{The 10 Commandments} to guide humankind. Humankind is revising God's laws to suit themselves. Confirmations in alternate lifestyles are demeaning to the meaning of family,as well as a resignation to some vague notion that men and women can't get along in marriage. Same sex friendships are nice because they don't have the complex element of sexual involvement. Marriage never was intended by God to be between same sex couples. Homosexuals are in denial of their sins,as they fear they are not living an appropriate lifestyle. They want the confirmation of our society and the Churches that all is okay. They would never do this if they knew that their sins were keeping them in a denial of God.

Published by: R
G 07/15/2009 10:25 PM EST

I am an Episcopalian. I am afraid, soon to be ex. The church leadership has sadly embraced the way of the world rather than the ways of Christ. The decisions sadden me terribly, and angers me that political correctness has officially begun its effective attach on religion. To divide it, conquer it. I am now thinking that perhaps Shoari's presence in the leadership only confirms that perhaps women should not have been allowed to be entered into the priesthood. Look at the road she has led the church down - to total schism. And to blame it on folks that are leaving is hypocritical.

Published by: Orthodox
Fort Worth, Texas 07/15/2009 07:55 PM EST

Lucianna is wrong. If she would refer to the Schism of 1054 she would notice the perversion of the "Holy" Roman Catholic Church and the linear path of the Orthodox church who has stayed to the original teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. Peter is the first Bishop of the Church and the teachings of the Church have remained the same. Please get an education and do not listen to the propaganda of the Roman Catholic Church. The only true thing you said is the fact that the Episcopal Church is no longer a church.

Published by: Joel WOrthodox Church, and
Virginia 07/15/2009 05:22 PM EST

I thought the very meaning of the word "catholic" came from the Greek kata+holicos or "according to the whole." The Whole Living Body of the Resurrected Christ is a lot larger than the Holy Roman Church.

Published by: myles keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 07/15/2009 04:21 PM EST

Published by: Lucianna
Portland Oregon 07/15/2009 03:14 PM EST

Please don't call this a "Church"! There is only one Church, the Holy Roman Catholic Church founded by Jesus. Any other so'called church is a lie and a perversion of the Truth!

Lucianna,
They are churches but as my father always points out unlike the Catholic Church these other faiths are examples of "man made churches."

Published by: Lucianna
Portland Oregon 07/15/2009 03:14 PM EST

Please don't call this a "Church"! There is only one Church, the Holy Roman Catholic Church founded by Jesus. Any other so'called church is a lie and a perversion of the Truth!

Published by: R. Roberts
Tacoma WA 07/15/2009 02:54 PM EST

I am wondering when they plan on starting their class action suit against God now that they have determined they are anti-discrimanatory- which tells me they have judge Him to be...hmmm.

Published by: Larry
Arkansas 07/15/2009 02:25 PM EST

How long will it be before other old-line denominations follow the lead of the Episcopal Church?

I am deeply saddened by this vote and the events it will set in motion.

Published by: myles keogh
Fort Riley Kansas 07/15/2009 02:10 PM EST

This is the perfect church for the likes of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the rest of the Kennedy clan and our own Catholic In Name Only members to join. I prayerfully encourage them to join the Episcopal Church which is more in tune with the ways of man then the ways of God.

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