Bishops approve resolution opening ordination to gays, lesbians

[kwassa]

Source: Episcopal News Service

After more than two hours of discussion and with a standing-room-only crowd watching, the House of Bishops on July 13 adopted an amended version of Resolution D025, which opens "any ordained ministry" to gay and lesbian people.

Bishops voted 99-45, with two abstentions, for the revised resolution, which goes to the House of Deputies world mission legislative committee. The committee must make a recommendation to the full house about whether to concur in the amended resolution, amend it further, or defeat it, according to Deputy Sally Johnson (Minnesota).

.......

Among other things, D025 reaffirms participation and commitment of the Episcopal Church within the Anglican Communion and also acknowledges the ministerial gifts of gays and lesbians.

.......

Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, at the heart of the issue because he is in a long-term relationship with a male partner, urged his fellow bishops to support the measure, saying once again that "it's time for us to stand up and be the church God is calling us to be."

Read more: http://www.episcopal-life.org/79901_112523_ENG_HTM.htm

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This means that gays and lesbians can hold any position in the church up to and including Presiding Bishop.

This might put us on a collision course with the larger Anglican Communion, some elements of which are very homophobic, and others that are sitting on the fence about gay issues.

[fascisthunter]

1. good news for those who believe in God... congrats

and good on the Episcopal Church for being inclusive.

[get the red out]

2. Hit piece

This must be why a local radio host was going to interview someone this morning about how the Episcopal Church was moving so far away from the rest of Christendom. He made it sound like Episcopalians were going to start worshiping the UFO people or something the way he put it. Had to be a hit piece, and clever because this guy isn't one of those local Limbaugh-wannabes.

[primavera]

3. However did I guess that this wasn't referring to the Catholics? - n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

6. Episcopal Church

"catholic" in the broader sense, but no, not the Roman Catholic Church.

[xchrom]

4. ...

:applause:

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Sounds like good news - however

what I'm reading from those reporting via Episcopal Cafe don't seem to think that this resolution is as clear as is being reported here. There are those saying it simply confirms the state of the church now, and does not make any changes or necessarily apply to bishops' ordination.

I'd like to believe it's as cut and dried as this article seems to think, however.

[kwassa]

7. I think it is cut-and-dried.

the language is simple and clear, and without exceptions,

and as with all Episcopal and Anglican agreements ...

people will interpret them however they choose!

:rofl: