Posted on 07/15/2009 9:17:13 PM PDT by SmithL
Anaheim, Calif. (AP) -- Episcopal bishops authorized the church Wednesday to start drafting an official prayer for same-sex couples, another step toward acceptance of gay relationships that will deepen the rift between the denomination and its fellow Anglicans overseas.
The bishops voted 104-30 at the Episcopal General Convention to "collect and develop theological resources and liturgies" for blessing same-gender relationships, which would be considered at the next national meeting in 2012.
The resolution notes the growing number of states that allow gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships, and gave bishops in those regions discretion to provide a "generous pastoral response" to couples in local parishes.
Many Episcopal dioceses already allow clergy to bless same-sex couples but there is no official liturgy for the ceremonies in the denomination's Book of Prayer. The measure still needs the approval of the lay people and priest delegates at the assembly, which ends Friday.
"We certainly feel a deep need to be able to proclaim the love of God in the midst of a changing reality," said Suffragan Bishop James Curry of the Diocese of Connecticut, one of six states that are legalizing same-gender marriage.
A day earlier, the convention had declared gays and lesbians eligible for "any ordained ministry," even though Anglican leaders had sought a clear moratorium on consecrating another gay bishop. The vote effectively lifted a self-imposed Episcopal pledge from three years ago to use "restraint" in approving another bishop in a same-sex relationship.
The Episcopal Church, which is the Anglican body in the U.S., caused an uproar in 2003 by consecrating the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
To calm tensions and keep the global Anglican Communion together, Anglican leaders five years ago pressed Episcopalians for a temporary ban on electing gay bishops,...
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
fyi
I think his wrist is limper than hers.
Love the sinners but not the sin.
Seriously...why do they even pretend to be Christians? Just break off and be your own “church” and be done with it...it just disgusts me...
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Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15
Actually, I think TEC now loves the sin, not the sinners...
“We certainly feel a deep need to be able to proclaim the love of God in the midst of a changing reality”
If the “reality” of sin is that sin can be redefined or eliminated altogether, why is there a need to show the love of God? If His law is no longer unchangeable, then He is no longer unchangeable. He is irrelevant to our lives, and the whole Episcopal church should disband, if they follow their own teaching.
Would that be the love of the God who called homosexual acts "abominations" and said "woe to those who call evil, 'good'" ... or the love of some other god?
Actually, I think they feel the need to proclaim the love of the zeitgeist while changing their god.
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