Church in Australia Votes in Gay Priests

Associated Press ^ | July 17, 2003

[NYer]

SYDNEY, Australia --

The leaders of an Australian Christian church voted Thursday to allow homosexuals to become priests, drawing protest from within the congregation.

Members of the Uniting Church opposed to the change warned it could trigger a mass exodus of followers from the church.

After two days of heated debate, more than 75 percent of delegates at the Uniting Church's national assembly in Melbourne voted for gays in the clergy.

The Uniting Church was formed in 1977 by a merger of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational denominations. The church, Australia's third largest Christian denomination, already has some gay clergy but until now has not formally recognized them.

Uniting Church president the Rev. Dr. Dean Drayman said it was "inevitable" that Thursday's decision would cause division, but urged church members to keep an open mind.

"We want our members to read what the proposal is, to see that nothing has changed for their congregation," he said.

Mary Hawks, a spokeswoman for a conservative faction opposing gay clergy, said the church was now "horribly close" to a full-blown split.

The vote with the Uniting Church coincides with a long-running debate within another denomination, the Anglican Church, about whether it should also allow gay clergy.

[NYer]

Remainder of Post:

Last month several Anglican bishops in Sydney condemned the appointment of gay bishops in the United States and Britain.

[NYer]

After two days of heated debate, more than 75 percent of delegates at the Uniting Church's national assembly in Melbourne voted for gays in the clergy.

Wonder if they also have women priestesses and liturgical dancers.

[Support Free Republic]

C'mon, have some class...
>	Think Right. Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP

[ThomasMore]

The Uniting Church was formed in 1977 by a merger of Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational denominations

Talk about a liberal conglomeration.