Episcopal church gay rights
The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church today voted in favour of altering the church’s Canon on Marriage to eliminate the definition that marriage is between a man and a woman and add a brand-new section that acknowledges that there are different understandings of marriage which now allows clergy to solemnise marriage between same sex couples as well as couples of the opposite sex. The revised canon also stipulates that no member of clergy will be required to solemnise a marriage against their conscience.
The voting was in three ‘houses’ of General Synod, namely Bishops, Clergy, Laity and required a two thirds majority to pass. The voting results are as below.
Responding to the voting outcome, the Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church said:
“This is the end of a long journey. There was the Cascade Process involving people across our church &#; the Doctrine Committee paper which explored whether a Christian understanding of marriage could extend to same sex couples. We have studied, thought and p
Conservative bishops refuse to take Communion with LGBTQ+ bishops, demand ‘sanctions’ for churches that allow for same-sex marriage
South Sudan Archbishop Justin Badi, left, and Indian Ocean Archbishop James Wong speak July 29 at a news conference organized by the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches at Kent University in Canterbury, England, during the Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops. Photo: David Paulsen/Episcopal News Service
[Episcopal News Service – Canterbury, England] Leaders of a group of conservative Anglican bishops say they will refuse to take Communion while worshiping alongside partnered gay and lesbian bishops at the Lambeth Conference, and they plan to submit and force a vote Aug. 1 on their own measure adj same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay, partnered clergy.
The group, which calls itself the Global South Fellowship of Anglican Churches, lists 22 provinces that are part of the Anglican Communion among its members and says it represents 75% of Anglicans around the world, particularly in Africa and Asia. “For too long, the Anglican
History
Faithful Episcopalians have been working toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all of God’s children for nearly a half-century. In , Louie Crew founded IntegrityUSA, a nonprofit organization with the goal of full-inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in The Episcopal Church. The next General Convention, in , adopted resolutions stating that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and look after of the Church” (A), and that they “are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens” (A).
Over the years, General Convention and Executive Council reaffirmed these resolutions, as skillfully as calling the church to greater understanding, awareness, and inclusion of LGBTQ+ people in the life of the church. In response to the AIDS crisis, the National Episcopal AIDS Coalition was created in to provide education and support for HIV and AIDS ministries across The Episcopal Church.
In , General Convention amended the church’s canons to prohibi
: October Homosexuality, along with alcoholism, is studied by the Residence of Bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church. It is referred to as a “standard weakness.” [1]
: August Rev. David B. Wayne of the Church of the Epiphany in New York City preaches that homosexuals “must be accepted fully into the fellowship of the church” while they also must seek counseling or psychological treatment. [2]
: November A proposed revision to a New York State law that would decriminalize “sexual deviation” (i.e., homosexuality and adultery) is praised by Episcopalians and denounced by Roman Catholics. The revision is later dropped by the NY state Legislature. [3]
: October Speaking at Duke Law School, Episcopal Auxiliary Bishop of California, Rev. James A. Pike claims that laws “aimed at controlling homosexuality, sexual practices between man and wife and abortions…must be changed.” He claims that such matters are “nobody’s business but the individuals concerned.” [4]
: November During a symposium on homosexuality sponsored by the Episcopal Dioceses of New York, Conne