Posted on 08/06/2003 8:17:24 AM PDT by kattracks
The US Episcopal church's first openly gay bishop predicted that other churches would soon follow his denomination's example in welcoming gays into their leadership.
"I suspect that before too very long, other denominations will also follow and welcome openly gay and lesbian people into leadership positions. That's my prayer," Gene Robinson told ABC television on Wednesday.
A majority of the church's House of Bishops on Tuesday voted 62 to 45 to ratify Robinson's appointment as bishop of New Hampshire, church officials said, ending three days of contentious debate.
Conservatives within church ranks, many of whom have fiercely opposed Robinson's election on the grounds it violates Biblical teachings, were quick to express their disapproval, and a group of 24 bishops threatened to resign if he were elected.
"Well, anytime anyone decides to leave the church, it's a very sad thing. And I certainly have been praying and will be praying every day that such a thing does not happen," Robinson said. "Indeed, I don't think it needs to happen."
"The Episcopal Church in this country, and the Anglican community worldwide, the great gift we bring to the world is we are able to maintain a wide diversity of opinions on various issues while holding our faith in Jesus Christ as central and the thing that binds us together as the body of Christ. So I think there's no reason for us to come apart," Robinson said.
The Episcopal Church, the US branch of the Anglican Church, has more than 2.1 million followers, making it the 10th-largest Protestant church in the United States.
I was hoping you wouldn't notice the number...I hate it when that happens. Kinda like the number 666 too. ugh. lol
I bet his boss, Beezlebub, is beaming with pride right now.
I'll concede that monogamy doesn't work very well, but there are cases where the men interpret the rules, and women follow them more sincerely than the men. Many a man had a godly wife who kept him in line.
As to whether women are more prone to lesbianism than men to homosexuality, I don't have an opinion on that. A lot of the homosexual men are very attractive, where all the lesbians I have known are unattractive. Also, it seems to me that both prey on both to validate their unwise choices and to recruit. There are confused, hurting women who more easily fall prey to seduction by lesbians than if they had a satisfactory heterosexual relationship.
Maybe they used to keep things like this quiet better, but it seem that the proportion of gays to straights in our society is increasing.
I don't like to think that polygamy was a lesser evil because women had no rights back in those days and few women really like to have to share a man, just as men seem to want a women who is faithful. I would have hated polygamy and having to service a man who spread his seed around.
Remember, Jesus told us that "in the beginning it was not so", and sought to return marriage to its intended state; i.e., between one man and one woman.
Hence I view polygamy and all the other gamies as social constructs rather than fulfilling the ideal for men and women.
1 Thessalonians 4
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
I'm not saying this "proves" the Rapture. But I do think these verses state more explicitly something that really does not occur in Revelation.
meow hiss spit!
True, very true. But I meant to say he's the best there is in PR. He's still the best in lying and deception. He even has himself deceived, which is why he could never win, and why he is fallen.
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