06/21/2005
Episcopalians Defend Robinson
The U.S. Episcopal Church has strongly defended its decision to ordain openly gay bishop Gene Robinson in a 130 page document that explains their reasoning.
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold: "Our actions around the question of homosexuality have deeply distressed a number of you...(We) recognize that the Episcopal Church has not reached a common mind on the matter of homosexuality. [However], "the overwhelming majority of Episcopalians are committed to living a life of unity in difference...Members of the Episcopal Church have discerned holiness in same-sex relationships and have come to support the blessing of such unions and the ordination or consecration of persons in those unions. We believe that God has been opening our eyes to acts of God that we had not known how to see before."
The issue of homosexuality has deeply divided the Anglican church, which officially declares it "incompatible with scripture."
Bravo to the North American Anglicans for standing by their man.
Posted 4:00 PM EST by Andy Towle in Religion | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
WOW! How truly brave, and insightful! "We believe that God has been opening our eyes to acts of God that we had not known how to see before"...so very inspirational!
Makes me want to become an Episcopalian! Well, not really ;)
Posted by: Wayne | Jun 21, 2005 4:45:59 PM
Episcopalians are Catholics without as much guilt. Join the United Church or Christ we are almost guilt free.
Posted by: Donald | Jun 21, 2005 5:00:00 PM
Bravo, indeed! There are some true Christians in the world after all. At least part of the Episocpalians are living in harmony without pre-judging us.
Too bad the lion's share of Christians don't follow who they profess to follow in living as Christians.
But it makes some sense — If they look to us, point to our sins, they don't have to deal with their own sins.
Posted by: Greg Brewer | Jun 21, 2005 5:03:05 PM
Episcopalians:
Wow. 130 pages seems like a really long way to say, "Because there's nothing wrong with it."
Posted by: Bernie Keating | Jun 21, 2005 6:12:24 PM
It boggles my mind how Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, etc. still refuse to acknowledge gays and lesbians yet the Episcopalian church is having some success in opening up to change. You'd think that the closeted priests within other Christian denominations would be inspired by Gene Robinson's election and the Episcopalian's growing tolerance, to find the courage to come out of the closet and tell the world that God doesn't hate them and tell everybody (even the crazy right wingers who want all gays killed) to love one another. THAT'S the Christian way!!
Posted by: Alex | Jun 21, 2005 6:22:07 PM
religion is for the feeble
Posted by: Paige Turner | Jun 21, 2005 10:18:31 PM
Bravo, though I've never heard of an Episcopalian, being a non-American myself. Except on Sex and the City (the time Episcopalian girl converted to Judaism in order to marry Jew)
Posted by: St. John | Jun 22, 2005 12:44:02 AM
What a brilliant statement by the Episcopal Church. I am proud to be a member!
Posted by: sarah | Jun 22, 2005 10:41:01 PM