The Episcopal Church is not likely to heed [Rowan] Williams’ warning. The church made its view on the issue quite clear in its General Convention last July, when it passed one resolution repealing the moratorium on electing gay bishops and a second resolution allowing, but not requiring, bishops to authorize same-sex blessing ceremonies in the churches they oversee. In places where civil authorities allow same-sex unions, the church has said it will respond to “changing circumstances” and allow bishops to provide a “generous pastoral response” to couples who want the church to bless their unions. Clergy are now free to solemnize same-sex unions in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and Diocese of Vermont, although the Episcopal Church has not yet written a liturgy for them to do so.

Since the bishops at the General Convention voted 99-45 to revoke the moratorium on gay bishops, it’s unlikely that Glasspool’s election will elicit a different response. Robert Lundy, communications officer for the conservative American Anglican Council, said the church will probably not change directions now: “We’re at the stage where it’s clear where the Episcopal Church is going. There’s no pretending that they’re going to remotely hold to Biblical teachings—not just on God’s role for sex . . . but on lots of other issues they’re totally walking apart from the rest of the Anglican Communion.”

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Filed under: * Anglican - Episcopal • Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams • Episcopal Church (TEC) • TEC Bishops • TEC Conflicts • TEC Conflicts: Los Angeles • Sexuality Debate (in Anglican Communion) • Same-sex blessings

1. Vatican Watcher wrote: After the first line of that article, I couldn’t read anymore.  The author ruined his credibility right off the bat. Rowan Williams is not likely to heed [Rowan] Williams’ warning. Fixed. December 8, 8:58 am | [comment link]

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