Episcopal Church Expected To Stop Backing Gay Clergy

[Meeker Morgan]

http://www.nysun.com/article/30260

LONDON - The liberal leadership of the American Anglican Church is preparing for an unexpected climbdown over homosexuality that could save the worldwide Church from schism.

Three years after consecrating Anglicanism's first openly gay bishop, the American bishops appear close to bowing to international pressure and shelving their radical agenda at a conference in June. Leaks from a private meeting of the bishops in North Carolina last week suggest that they will "repent" for plunging Anglicanism into turmoil by consecrating Gene Robinson as Bishop of New Hampshire.

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[Maat]

1. This is sad news (n/t).

[Rowdyboy]

2. This would be the saddest news I've heard all year....

I hope it isn't so.

[wryter2000]

3. Oh, no

I've been so proud of my former church. I knew the issue was causing problems, but I so hoped they'd stand firm. :cry:

Come on, Episcopalians. You can hang in there.

[mom cat]

4. They should repent alright! Repent for not having the courage of

their convictions.

[xchrom]

5. no they won't -- this is bullshit.

there is a very good chance the diocese of clifornia will elect a gay bishop -- and very soon -- with in days.

there are three candidates in the final running who are gay -- so i don't know where this article is coming from --- but it isn't true.

how would they apologise if another diocese installs another gay bishop?

[Xeric]

6. I agree

The NY Sun is a right wing fishwrapper that literally nobody reads. I wouldn't believe a word printed in it. Not even a good liner for the cat litter pan.

[kevinbgoode]

7. I agree..it was obvious that it was rightwing when it called

the American Episcopal Church "radical". . .wingnut political trash.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. The National Convention must ratify any episcopal elections

And since none of the candidates are already bishops, the approval of the National Convention is required to consecrate the bishop elect.

My prediction: In June, at the next National Convention, delegates will ratify a canon which suspends -- temporarily, mind you, in the church's traditionally passive-agressive style -- the ordination of openly gay men and women to holy orders. It would not invalidate the existing ordination of any gay person, but would prevent new homosexuals from being ordained, whether from lay person to deacon, deacon to priest, or priest to bishop.

Then the Convention would take up the matter of ratifying the diocese of California's election. If they have selected a gay person, well... canon law is canon law, and the Convention can not consecrate that person as a bishop, sorry.

[kevinbgoode]

9. If they pull that stunt,

I certainly will never set foot in an Episcopal Church. I have absolutely no patience for people who give in to unreasonable bullies. The entire idea that only a male whose peepee points in the proper direction is capable of ministerial duties is completely inane.

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. I'm inclined to agree with you

But speaking as a former Episcopalian, I have seen how the via media tradition of the Anglican Communion gets translated into, "How can we annoy the fewest number of people?" And for all the church's progressive values, there is a very wide streak of conservatism just underneath the surface: there are still people in the Episcopal Church who refuse to use the modern language liturgy (without the old-fashioned thees and thous) ratified in 1978 because it is not tradition.

While there would no doubt be a huge uproar should such a canon be adopted, a survey of Episcopalian friends shows that most rank-and-file church-goers would be rather relieved to put off the whole mess for a few decades so it can be "studied." Remember, it took some 90 years to "study" whether or not women should be ordained, and the church came very near to schism when the General Convention went ahead and allowed it.

[xchrom]

10. and i don't think they'll do that at national convention either.

the episcopal church is awash in kindred spirits.

that move would cause an uproar re: the ordination of women as well.

many people would be so outraged at that move it would split things apart in the american episcopal church more than just conservatives breaking away.