Posted on 09/23/2006 12:48:56 PM PDT by Dane
Gay priest not picked as N.J. bishop
By CHRIS NEWMARKER Associated Press Writer © 2006 The Associated Press
NEWARK, N.J. — Avoiding further controversy in the worldwide Anglican family, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark on Saturday chose a Massachusetts priest as their new bishop, rather than an openly gay candidate on the ballot.
The Rev. Mark Beckwith won on the third ballot, taking 253, or about 53 percent of the 477 ballots cast by clergy and lay representatives. Click to learn more...
Canon Michael Barlowe, 51, an openly gay priest from California, only had one vote from a lay person in the final round. Even in the first round, he only had 40 votes, 16 from clergy and 24 from lay people.
The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton, an openly gay priest at St. Paul's Church in Chatham, felt Beckwith was the best choice to lead the diocese, but thought the global Anglican community's pressure on the American church to avoid more gay bishops was an "elephant in the room."
She thought it sad that "someone of the caliber of Michael Barlowe had such a poor showing."
Barlowe is currently an officer for congregational development for the Diocese of California in San Francisco.
The election in the historically liberal diocese came at a time when divisions over the Bible and sexuality are threatening the denomination and the worldwide Anglican family.
A win by Barlowe would put the diocese at the center of a crisis over whether Anglicans who disagree about ordaining gays can stay in the same fellowship.
The feud erupted in the Anglican community in 2003, after the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
In June, the Episcopal General Convention, the church's top policy-making body, voted to ask U.S. bishops to "exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration" of candidates "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church." However, the measure is not binding.
Beckwith, of Worcester, Mass., had previously served in the Newark diocese in Morristown and Hackensack. He must still be approved nationally by diocesan standing committees, which are panels of local lay people and clergy similar to a board of directors, and a majority of the more than 100 Episcopal bishops who lead U.S. dioceses.
If approved, Beckwith will replace Bishop John Palmer Croneberger, who is resigning to spend more time with his ill wife, diocese spokeswoman Rev. Sandye Wilson said.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. representative of the global Anglican Communion.
She thought it sad that "someone of the caliber of Michael Barlowe had such a poor showing."
Tom Daschle is very saddened.
Is this the same posititon once held by Spong?
I believe so.
The FACT that they'd even consider such an ABOMINATION ... tells me it doesn't matter WHO they run up the ladder for their leader. Some day ... they're going to have a lot of explaining to do before that White Throne.
Shouldn't the NJ Episcoplaians be given some credit for not bowing down to the god of political correctness.
Uh, but the candidate was soundly defeated in NJ of all places.
JMO, you should extend a hand of congratulations to the Episcoplaians in NJ for not doing the "popular" thing and not bowing down to political correctness.
Traditional Anglican ping, continued in memory of its founder Arlin Adams. I'm sorry, but you just asked for this:
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo thank you!
Just put em Priest garb and then you summed it up.
I've never minded the Trocks, because (1) they are only exactly what they claim to be - a bunch of (actually very talented) male dancers engaged in a send-up of creaky ballet traditions; (2) they confine their efforts to the artistic sphere, where traditionally homosexuals are afforded a good deal more leeway and have also refrained from politicking as a general rule; (3) anybody who buys a ticket knows exactly what they're getting into.
I wish that Vicki Gene had decided on a career in dance rather than allying himself with the loony elements in ECUSA/TEC. Everybody would be a lot happier, including Vicki Gene.
Maybe it's me ... but I just don't find gays dressed up as females amusing or entertaining. I wouldn't be caught dead there or give them the sweat off my behind to line their pockets.
The arts are separated from ordinary family activities like school, shopping, and church. Those of us who think the Trocks are a laff riot can buy our tickets and go enjoy ourselves -- those that don't, don't.
Which sounds a lot like the old trope about "knowing your place," but like most stereotypes there's a grain of truth in there. Nobody likes to have somebody else's alternative lifestyle shoved in their face, but if it's in a place where it's expected to be, and everybody knows it, nobody's offended and everybody can have a good time, those who go and those who stay away.
Seriously, though, they ARE funny. It's not so much a frankly homosexual event (although most of the Trocks are in fact) as a send-up of the foibles of the prima ballerina and the rest of the female corps de ballet -- which believe me was LONG overdue. If you've seen a typical local ballet company's Swan Lake and then watch the Trocks' version, it's a howler.
. . . of course, my mom's a professional dancer so I'm used to all this stuff.
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