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PDF versionEpiscopal church elects second gay bishop
Dec. 08, 2009
After years of warnings from Anglican leaders, Saturday's (Dec. 5) election of a lesbian bishop poses a stark question for the Episcopal Church: Does it want to continue to be a full member in the global Anglican Communion, or go its own way?
In the coming months, more than 100 Episcopal dioceses and bishops will answer that query by confirming or rejecting the election of the Rev. Mary Glasspool as suffragan (assistant) bishop of Los Angeles.
Glasspool, 55, has been with her partner since 1988, according to a biography she provided to the Diocese of Los Angeles; she is poised to become the second openly gay bishop elected in the 2.1 million-member Episcopal Church.
But a majority of bishops and standing committees in the Episcopal Church's 110 dioceses must vote to give their "consents," or confirmation to Glasspool's election before she can be consecrated a bishop. Because that process involves the breadth of the church, it is likely to be an accurate reflection of Episcopalians' willingness to defy, or heed international pressure.
Within the U.S., the confirmation process has become more politicized in recent years, as the Internet has fostered online campaigns against candidates. Two elections have been nullified in the last two years, though one of the bishops was later re-elected.
On Sunday, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Communion, Archbishop Rowan Williams, strongly and swiftly warned Episcopalians that confirming Glasspool "will have very important implications."
Glasspool's election "raises very serious questions not just for the Episcopal Church and its place in the Anglican Communion, but for the communion as a whole," Williams said.
Williams lacks the authority of a pope to summarily excommunicate churches or members that stray from the fold, but he has proposed a two-track system that could significantly reduce the Episcopal Church's role in the communion.
"I think it's a clear warning that we need to think seriously before giving consents," said Bishop Edward Little of the Diocese of Northern Indiana. "Clearly what Archbishop Rowan is implying is that if the American church goes forward and ordains a second person living in a same-sex partnership as bishop then it will damage, perhaps permanently, our place in the communion, and contribute toward its unraveling."
Little is one of about 15 bishops who have pledged to abide by a moratorium on gay bishops, and so will not consent to Glasspool's election, he said in an interview on Monday.
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Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney, Australia, said Monday that Glasspool's election gives Williams "every reason" to "dissociate the Episcopal Church" from the Anglican Communion and to instead recognize a conservative breakaway church, the Anglican Church of North America, as the legitimate U.S. branch of Anglicanism.
The threats from Williams and other Anglican leaders have been steadily rising in intensity ever since Episcopalians elected V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay priest, as bishop of New Hampshire. Because his election fell within 90 days of the church's triennial General Convention, Robinson was confirmed by delegates and bishops at the assembly, instead of the process facing Glasspool.
In many parts of the Anglican Communion, which has 77 million members and includes the Episcopal Church as its U.S. branch, homosexuality is viewed as sinful. In Uganda, for example, Anglican leaders have refused to condemn a proposed law that would severely punish homosexuality and people who counsel gays and lesbians. The church did say, however, that homosexuals should not face the death penalty.
In contrast, large majorities of U.S. bishops and delegates voted in July to lift a three-year-old moratorium on gay bishops and blessing same-sex unions, despite pleadings from Williams not to do anything that would "push us further apart."
Episcopalians have begun to tune out warnings from Williams and other Anglican leaders, said Jim Naughton, spokesman for the Diocese of Washington. "If the sky is falling, it's been falling for a long time," he said, "and it doesn't appear any closer."
The Episcopal Church has said for years that it is committed to both the Anglican Communion and the full inclusion of gays and lesbians, said the Rev. Jo Bailey Wells, a professor and director of Anglican studies at Duke Divinity School in Durham, N.C. Glasspool's election is, in a sense, a fork in the road.
"I think Williams' statement points out the incommensurability of both agendas," she said. "Episcopalians are prone to deny the consequences of their actions, because they so believe in what they are doing that they don't believe that others do not believe."
As Glasspool's confirmation moves to local dioceses across the country, the votes of church bishops should be watched closely, said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, a conservative theologian from South Carolina.
Williams leaned on the bishops in his statement, reminding them that they had once agreed to "exercise restraint" when faced with the possibility of electing another gay bishop.
"It's the bishops that tend to be more institutional and seek a higher or larger view," Harmon said. "They have some sense of the international church. That's why Rowan singled them out."
Good for the Episcopal
Good for the Episcopal Church. They are leading the way on equal rights at all levels of leadership.
"Good for the Episcopal
"Good for the Episcopal Church."
I fully agree.
Indeed, Episcopalians may end up being more catholic than the pope!
(and that wouldn't be a bad development)
The Episcopal church and
The Episcopal church and dioceses are simply following the teachings of their foundation, Jesus of Nazareth. Their detractors are not. Shame on them!
I remember that line. I
I remember that line. I think it was in Luke right? "Remember those sexual deviants we condemned before? You shall appoint one to rule over you and be your spiritual leader."
No shame here. I think we can
No shame here. I think we can find plenty of reasons why sinners shouldnt be spiritual leaders. This woman in an active homosexual. Of course you people do nto even care about sin any more. Jesus said go and sin no more, not you will not sin no more. He came to save us and you are rejecting his mercy and compassion. VIVA BENEDETTO!
"Episcopal church elects
"Episcopal church elects second gay bishop"
NO, the correct title for this article should be:
"Episcopal church elects FIRST LESBIAN bishop"
Yes, the Episcopal Church is
Yes, the Episcopal Church is following the example of Christ, which is to INCLUDE and NOT disenfranchise and JUDGE others. In light of science and enlightenment on the subject of human sexuality and the roles of women in the Church's ordained ministry, the Episcopal Church is light years ahead of the Roman Catholic Church and therefore, more representative of what a universal or Catholic Church should look and act like. They are also miles ahead of us on the liturgy and their Mass truly represents the thinking of liturgical renewal that was established by the Second Vatican Council. The Roman Catholic Church will eventually change and adapt these same positions but only after the immanent implosion of the decaying imperial and triumphalist model that was reintroduced by John Paul II has disappeared. The Catholic Church has a great deal to learn from the Episcopal Church and ordination and inclusion of women and GLBT persons is only the beginning.
In time, all belief change?
In time, all belief change? Jesus said to slave?Racism- Hitler,Freedom of religion- U.S.,Slavery -Human Rights,alcohol- prohibition,Pot- medical,Gay- marriage what do they all have in common? All worlds lessons to accept which you dont understand?Now if you add belief,and read the bible?Dictates both ways? All are to make choice equal and fair?Thue love. I tell you this because the Bible say, A stone to be broken,or to fall on us and grind,crush us. A stone to trip on to teach us Judgements.We do with every thought to justify.OR THIS,broken is Accetpt withwout predjudice,Grind is Hate.Eats your love or to be pedjudice. Even with word in Bible. Is this not judgement? Why not if so?Did Jesus use scripture to justify or PARABLE? Why? TO NOT OFFEND MAN!THUS JESUS expamle?Do you use scripture to Justify?In law crimes are justified by Law to be fair and equal? All are to show us our faults or Judgements.Love is equal! Not justified period!!!Did Jesus did judge
man? not even to save his life? Used of parable to not judge even upon death on cross?Answered with Qestion and answer. Two most important Commandment Love thy God and second Love one another UNCONDITIONALLY.So hard? Not, if you see your Judgements! Blinded by society belief or to be politically correct FOR THAT TIME!NEW time? Marriage? Meant to be? Must be? Your say the same? Read your dictionary!Human nature to justify all things we know or belief. Human nature is reason for Jesus! You like something you decided by justification.Your belief? All stones of life. If you believe in God your saved. Judgement is comming.How many times a day you Judge something? Now how many times man? without thought? NO Human nature is why God gave us Jesus. New testament is new omega. Beginning of the end. Likeness of God? Form,in human or human natured. Jesus likeness of man. With human nature.Did he get tempted by satan? yes Did he pray before death? yes. All part of
human nature to judge and justify or decide one way or other . Choice is yours? Gay Marriage? A STONE we dealt with today? We know its going to pass. Are we just justifying what society dictates to us? Reason or God.s Plan. Our predjudice twists the word for that time. Reason or plan.Beliefs,Belief change with society ? Time will let you see.If you hear yourself.To say someone is stupid? Justify by test, is Judgement of brains? Could it hurt someone or be held negative to person? Judgement put on us by Human nature dictating society of the world at that time. Reason Plan! Jesus did not justify man by scripture can you without word of scripture. Slavery not to long ago was wrong.Did belief change? Why To make EQUAL. Love you unconditionally!!! Are you blinded by sociey? If you justified with scripture your are blind to new TRUE LOVE. If you can get past your Human Nature. If you use anything to judge another person not matter how or what is not equal and
thus offends is JUDGEMENT. How many Lessons do man need??? Use of Bible to Judge is judgement justified in your own Mind.Love 2nd Commandment or second most Important.Stones we accept and just struggle or stone you grind and crush you Hate.Prdjudice and dont see it is just Human nature blocking your thuth.If you can understant than Whole new meaning. Gay Marriage? stone, Pot a Stone, Not many stones left? Money,Religion,Communism. Stones left before end of time THE OMEGA. New Testament is Alpha Omega.Begginning of the end. Open your eyes!This is to prepare you for end.Rev. It is okay to be Gay.If you say not your still blinded. Time not for you or since your saved as by Faith alone.Sins are our spankings from our Father.Stones to open our eyes and remove our Judgements.To see level with you. Marriage Meant to be between? Sin is Full of Lust without altar there for Salt!Jesus new law for us gentiles. Dont judge religion for it is same as
Slavery,prohibition,Human Rights,Pot,Gay you judge them all if you see wrong you do the same to person attached to it. Gay people will have an easier time of uderstanding for they are be Judged. Not by God by Gods word I know and most have still have to learn. My reson is now clear to wake up this world. You think im nutz you might know you just judged me and thus sin against me. You might want to ask forgiveness not from me. GOD! I dont judge no man For the most part.I am Human. Can this seed grow or just rott.time will tell.If you get it. Its sprouted. Love all man EQUAL not matter what or you might pay latter.Judgement day is Near.
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