In a hopeful move last week, the U.S. Bishops from the Episcopal Church of the U.S. took the first step towards standing up to the Anglican demand that the U.S. churches stop ordaining gay and lesbian leaders or performing marriage rites for same sex couples.
Their statement said, “We cannot accept what would be injurious to the church and could well lead to its permanent division...the Gospel that in Christ all God’s children, including gay and lesbian persons, are full and equal participants in the life of Christ Church ’s.” The resolution also calls to an end of the silence of the Anglican Communion on the issue of anti-gay violence, proclaiming “the Gospel that stands against any violence, including violence done to women and children as well as those who are persecuted because of their differences, often in the name of God. The Dar es Salaam Communiqué is distressingly silent on this subject.”
There has yet to be a response.
I applaud the Bishops in choosing to affirm ministry to all. There can never be justification for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Let us pray for their continued courage as they prepare their final response due in September.
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To clarify, this statement was made by only some of the U.S. Episcopal Bishops, no? The U.S. Bishops are not entirely in agreement on this matter from what I've read.
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