US Anglican Church overturns moratorium on same-sex blessings and ordination of gay bishops
excerpt:
The Archbishop of Canterbury told General Synod today that he 'regrets' the decision by The Episcopal Church house of deputies to overturn the moratorium on the ordination of gay bishops. At the same time, the Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori has warned the Church of England that it should not recognise the new Anglican Church in North America, arguing 'schism is not a Christian act.' And just minutes ago, as The Lead reports, TEC has taken a significant step towards overturning the moratorium on same-sex blessings as well.
It's not a done deal yet, however;
excerpt:
Responding to a question by Chris Sugden of Anglican Mainstream, Dr Williams said: 'As for eneral Convention it remains to be seen I think whether the vote of the House of Deputies will be endorsed by the House of Bishops. If the House of Bishops chooses to block then the moratorium remains.
The Diocese of Niagara in Canada has announced it will bless same sex relationships beginning September 1.
Of course they still won't perform same sex marriages - just "bless" the ones some less pure soul has performed. It is sad that all these people place the "unity" of their church (i.e. pandering to the worst homophobes) ahead of the human rights of their congregants.
I couldn't agree more with you, Unionist.
Yup.
Good for our Episcopalians. And, if nothing else, the days when Anglicans were the world's most boring Christian communion are long-gone.
I know there's another more recent thread, but I can't find it.
Breaking news: The House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church of the USA (ECUSA - Anglican) has just voted to approve the liturgy for blessing lifelong covenants for same-sex couples. It was by a considerable majority in both houses - both clergy and lay.
Link: Episcopal Church becomes biggest US church to bless gay unions
And in other good news Boom Boom, New Zealand declined to adopt the proposed Anglican Covenant.
Good news, indeed! Thanks.
For those new to this:
1. No Anglican Covenant
2. The main objection is that it will turn the Church from an open one, where Anglicans are free to disagree with each other, into a confessional one where an international committee will lay down what Anglicans are expected to believe.
Arising out of the debate over gay bishops, the Covenant is designed to establish a formal method for declaring Anglican teaching. The immediate intention is to condemn the belief that same-sex partnerships are morally permissible; but the wording of the Covenant allows the same process to apply to any controversial new development.
ECUSA put the Covenant "on hold". Affirmed desire to remain in communion with Anglicans world-wide but "kicked the can down the road" on saying either yes or no to the Covenant or any part of it.
The House of Bishops concurred with the deputies July 10 to affirm their commitment to building relationships across the Anglican Communion, especially through the Continuing Indaba program, and to decline to take a position on the Anglican Covenant.
http://www.anglicanjournal.com/nc/other/news-items/c/sliders/article/con...Yeah, I think the Canadian and American churches are pretty much in agreement here. I just went to the ACC website and they still have the "Study Guide" in circulation. I think the church here should have said "no study guide, no Covenant" in the first place. No one I know here wants anything to do with the Covenant.
To England, now: UK government says it will legalize gay marriage, but bar Church of England from involvement
It's a bit of a confusing story to me, because I know there are efforts to allow same sex unions in the Church of England, although perhaps it's a minority movement at the moment.