Episcopal shakeup seen if gay bishop is chosen

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/3/6 | Matthai Chakko Kuruvila

[SmithL]

The Episcopal Diocese of California's nomination of three gay clergy among seven candidates for bishop is no surprise -- priests in the diocese have been blessing same-sex unions for at least 27 years.

But the possible election of one of them Saturday threatens to split not only the 220-year-old Episcopal Church in the United States but also the centuries-old Anglican Communion, the group of churches around the world that share worship and prayer traditions rooted in the Church of England.

What once would have been a local decision has international implications because the Anglican Communion's growth since the 1970s has drawn congregants in Africa and South America who favor literal, conservative interpretations of the Bible and condemn homosexuality.

The possible election of a gay or lesbian as bishop for the Diocese of California "really flies in the face of the worldwide Anglican Communion," said the Rev. Van McCalister, spokesman for the Diocese of San Joaquin, which is based in Fresno. In the orthodox view of McCalister and other dissenters from the Episcopal Church, only a married, heterosexual couple should have sex.

The roughly 2 million Episcopalians in America are but a fraction of the world's 77 million Anglicans. The American church's demographic relevance has decreased dramatically with the evangelical-led growth of Anglican churches outside the United States and Europe. The Nigerian province alone claims 18 million Anglicans.

"The center of Anglicanism is not in England," said Bishop William Swing, the outgoing head of the Diocese of California, which encompasses 27,000 parishioners and clergy. "It's in Africa."

Gay-friendly priests are reaching out to Africa, including the Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago, a lesbian priest who is among the local candidates. She and four other gay Episcopalians pay for a Sudanese Anglican to attend seminary.

[SmithL]

Not content with playing house, now they want to play church, too.

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I see why Episcopalians can't play chess. It is obvious that they can't tell their Bishops from their Queens.

[madison10]

I see why Episcopalians can't play chess. It is obvious that they can't tell their Bishops from their Queens.

ROFL

[Claud]

LOLOL...quip of the year.

[FormerLib]

Assuming for just one moment that there might actually be any left, would the last Christian leaving the Episcopal Church kindly turn out the lights? The people that are left in there prefer the darkness, you see.

[rfreedom4u]

Why don't we just let crimminals be police officers and arsonists be firefighters? Kind of the same thing.

[madprof98]

In the orthodox view of McCalister and other dissenters from the Episcopal Church, only a married, heterosexual couple should have sex.

Wonder where they got that idea?

[r9etb]

LOLOL...quip of the year.

The year 2001, to be exact...

[sionnsar]

Assuming for just one moment that there might actually be any left, would the last Christian leaving the Episcopal Church kindly turn out the lights?

There are some still.

[sionnsar]

Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams.

FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this moderately high-volume ping list (typically 3-9 pings/day).
This list is pinged by sionnsar, Huber and newheart.

Resource for Traditional Anglicans: http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com
More Anglican articles here.

Humor: The Anglican Blue (by Huber)

Speak the truth in love. Eph 4:15

[iluvlucy]

“What once would have been a local decision has international implications because the Anglican Communion's growth since the 1970s has drawn congregants in Africa and South America who favor literal, conservative interpretations of the Bible and condemn homosexuality.”

Wrong totally wrong. The reason it would have stayed a local decision is because the local action would never ever consider such a thing. The writer’s implication is the Africans, and Latin Americans are Homophobes, be that the intention or not. I wonder if the writer would ever consider rewriting the sentence as follows:

“What once would have been a local decision has international implications because the Anglican Communion’s weakening attention to moral values in the West where it originated leaving the congregants in Africa and South America to bear the burden of moral virtue and instruction based on conservative interpretations of the Bible to overcome the rise of homosexuality in the Western Churches.”

I can dream can't I?

[iluvlucy]

"Assuming for just one moment that there might actually be any left, would the last Christian leaving the Episcopal Church kindly turn out the lights?

There are some still."

And a lot of those are in pews with this former Episcopalian. It is getting crowded here let me tell you.

[TaxRelief]

What's wrong with calling a sin a "sin"?

Participating in homosexual activities and any other sexual practice outside of a marriage between a man and a woman is a SIN. It is also physically and emotionally harmful to everyone involved.

[iluvlucy]

"What's wrong with calling a sin a "sin"?"

Ask the writer because I have nooooooo idea.