Episcopalians Vote to Allow Gay Weddings

Standing on my Head ^ | July 1, 2015 | Fr. Dwight Longenecker

[NYer]

Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson with a friend

The AP reports here from the Episcopal Church’s General Convention  that the Episcopal Church of the USA is now formally permitting same sex weddings.

 Episcopalians voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples, solidifying the church’s embrace of gay rights that began more than a decade ago with the pioneering election of the first openly gay bishop.

the House of Bishops prayed and debated the issue for five hours earlier this week before passing it on to the House of Deputies.

The Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago, a lesbian married to a fellow Episcopal priest, hugged fellow supporters on Wednesday and said, “We’re all included now.”

“For the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our congregations now know under the eyes of God and in every single state in this blessed country, they are welcome to receive all the sacraments,” she said.

Not all Episcopalians are happy, but Bishop Gene Robinson is thrilled.

Ties among Anglicans have been strained since Episcopalians in 2003 elected Bishop Gene Robinson, who lived openly with his male partner, to lead the Diocese of New Hampshire. Many theologically conservative Episcopalians either split off or distanced themselves from the national U.S. church after Robinson’s election.

On the eve of Wednesday’s vote, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, issued a statement expressing deep concern about the move to change the definition of marriage.

Robinson said after the vote, “It’s a day I wasn’t sure I would live to see.”

Robinson, it will be remembered, not only divorced his wife and abandoned his children, but went with his wife to the same church where they were married to have a ceremony in which they “released one another from their vows.” Robinson then went on to marry his boyfriend and then later divorced him too.

His lifestyle choices provoked the comment, “St Paul said a bishop should be the husband of one wife. Gene Robinson was the first bishop to be the husband of one husband.”

Other Protestant churches also allow gay weddings.

The Episcopal Church joins two other mainline Protestant groups that allowed gay marriage in all their congregations: the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The 3.8-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lets its congregations decide for themselves, and many of them host gay weddings.

The United Methodist Church, by far the largest mainline Protestant church with 12.8 million members, bars gay marriage, although many of its clergy have been officiating at same-sex weddings recently in protest.

Read the full article here.

[Albion Wilde]

in the future the Catholic Church will be standing alone against this Obamanation.

Incorrect. There will be many evangelicals, Orthodox, traditional Lutherans and Baptists still standing. We're not the ones with the gay priests.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"There will be many evangelicals, Orthodox, traditional Lutherans and Baptists still standing [with the Catholics]."

I believe thast, too. Strongly. There is strong leadership in this area coming from SBC and LCMS and the Orthodox as well.

"We're not the ones with the gay priests."

That's what I'd say, too, if a belonged to a church without priests.

As for churches that have priests, "We're not the only ones with the gay priests." Let's help each other on the way to a deeper repentance and a purer life. I think that's what we need: mutual prayer, mutual help.

[verga]

The Baptists already are performing these sham weddings. Google the 60 minutes story about the woman that sued her pastor and his ORDAINED wife over the issue.

Lutherans, Methodist, and Presbyterians already ordain women.

While you are Googling looks up the abuse statistics for Protestant ministers.

For the last 10 years the Catholic Church has made great strides in eliminating the homosexual candidates from it's Priesthood. No other denomination can make this claim.

I stand by my previous comments and research on the part of n on-Catholics will bear this out.

[ohioman]

They should rename themselves the church of Satan.

[QBFimi]

>> maybe it will bring more of them to the Catholic Church.

Uh, pick up some of the hymns from the Reformation and we’ll talk.

[verga]

“Amazing grace”, has always been my favorite song, followed closely by “How Great Thou Art.”

[faithhopecharity]

certainly the Anglican “church” has had homosexual leadership that’s well known, admitted

so possibly the others too, yes.

---

there sure are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothes these days in “leftist” or “liberal” or reform” churches/synagogues/pulpits

preaching and teaching all sorts of anti=Biblical things

if they wre outside the church, not wrapping themselves up as if they were Christians (or Jews), then I would not write this note

I’m dusgusted mostly by their Lie, their misappropriation of once-legitimate pulpits.... to spew their anti-Christian/anti-Jewish ideas, ‘lifestyle choice,” etc.

It is most disappinting that the body of Christ or the parishioners or members of such congregations have not tossed these deceptive wolves out, long ago

this latter point gives me considerable pause.. and great concern... that the problem is deeper than “just” some clever wolves infiltating some pulpits

it may well be that there are many parishioners, members of such churches/congregations that have no real commitment themselves to Biblical teachings and faith

[ADSUM]

Perhaps we should encourage them to read the Bible.

Marriage was instituted by God as a relationship between a man and a woman. “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Gen. 2:24). The Church does not have the power or authority to change this—nor does secular society.

[rocketmag]

My mother yanked us out of the Episcopal church 35 years ago. Their backs have been turned on Christianity for a long long time.

[Albion Wilde]

Let's help each other on the way to a deeper repentance and a purer life. I think that's what we need: mutual prayer, mutual help.

You and I have often agreed on that. Admittedly I reacted to verga's chauvinism, tired as I am of the FR potshots at non-Catholic Christians, and believe you might well have included him or her in your admonition, dear FRiend.

Hope you are continuing to recover fully!

[Albion Wilde]

I’ve done the research, and took exception to your preening and extremist views “no other church can make this claim” — really? Kindly see Mrs. Don-o’s much more reasonable and accurate assessment of protestant churches that are standing firm.

I would also point out to you that ordaining women is not the equivalent of approving of gay marriage — United Methodists do the former but not the latter. Also that the Lutherans have several branches, and the one cited by Mrs. Don-o, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) most certainly has no intention of swaying from the apostolic faith with regard to marriage.

I can hear your huffing and puffing about the many denominations of protestantism already — spare us. It is little different than Catholics’ knowledge of the many orders of priests and nuns, who have varying approaches to the faith journey and even to theology, certainly as concerns the Jesuits.

[Kickass Conservative]

Let me know when they Condone Human Sacrifice.

[bonfire]

Actually....two of the items they voted on (not gay marriage) DID come in with the number 666. One was regarding the ELCA and the other the length of future conventions, iirc.

[Mrs. Don-o]

"...in the future the Catholic Church will be standing alone against this Obamanation."

I agree with what Albion Wilde said:

"Incorrect. There will be many evangelicals, Orthodox, traditional Lutherans and Baptists still standing." I have seen some of these excellent people in action, worked shoulder-to-shoulder with them here in East Tennessee and elsewhere. They are second to none.

[circlecity]

"So now we will see some Christian denominations endorsing homosexual marriage ."

I understand your point but I would note that any denomination which supports gay marriage is by definition not Christian.

[Albion Wilde]

Actually....two of the items they voted on (not gay marriage) DID come in with the number 666. One was regarding the ELCA and the other the length of future conventions, iirc.

The Holy Spirit tries to get through to people, and numbers like that are just corroboration of what their hearts should have been open to. God doesn't want any of his creatures to perish. But...

[verga]

I can hear your huffing and puffing about the many denominations of protestantism already — spare us.

You might consider getting your hearing checked, I neither huffed nor puffed.

It is little different than Catholics’ knowledge of the many orders of priests and nuns, who have varying approaches to the faith journey and even to theology, certainly as concerns the Jesuits.

It is very different. Every "order" of the Catholic Church holds to the dogmatic teachings of the Catholic Church.

If you even look at the mainline protestant churches you will see wide variation in their beliefs. Some accept infant baptism, some only adult baptism, others will accept baptism from anyone over the age of reason (generally considered around age 7)

You will see that some believe that Jesus is present in the communion bread Under the "Accidents". Several groups believe that Jesus is present until digestion begins, others believe in the metaphorical presence.

Most groups don't believe in any sacraments. IIRC the Lutherans used to believe in 5 and are now down to three.

[verga]

"Incorrect. There will be many evangelicals, Orthodox, traditional Lutherans and Baptists still standing." I have seen some of these excellent people in action, worked shoulder-to-shoulder with them here in East Tennessee and elsewhere. They are second to none.

I am not saying this to be mean. What I am describing has been historically documented. Every single protestant denomination has chosen to step away from the pillar and foundation of truth. Once they do this, incrementalism begins to creep in. Some at a faster pace than others.

Eventually the organizations will take on more "liberal" views and the decline will accelerate. Eric Hoffer describes it very well in his book "The True Believer, thoughts on mass movements." The book is only about 100 pages or so, but it can be a difficult read.

[Albion Wilde]

Still incorrect. End of discussion for me. Loyalty good. Extremism bad.

[verga]

Have a good day.