United Press International reports, July 2, 2015, that just days after the U.S. Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage a constitutional right, bishops in the Episcopal Church have voted to approve such unions performed by its clergy. At a convention in Salt Lake City this week, Episcopalian leaders voted to permit religious weddings for gay couples, beginning November 1.
The resolutions approved at the General Convention mean bishops have authorized their clergy to perform marriages for Episcopalian same-sex couples. The bishops also voted to change the verbiage in the church’s rules on marriage to make them gender neutral.
However, the changes are not being met with unanimous support as debate on the matter for the church is far from settled. Moreover, according to the Washington Post, the bishops’ resolution doesn’t mean all Episcopalian clergy are required to perform same-sex unions. They are still free to refuse such a request without fear of penalty.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby — the leader who oversees the Episcopal Church — expressed concern regarding same-sex unions among Episcopalians. He said the bishops’ votes “will cause distress for some and have ramifications for the Anglican Communion as a whole, as well as for its ecumenical and interfaith relationships.”
The Archbishop’s remarks reflect the fact that same-sex marriage in the Episcopal Church remains a deeply divisive issue among members.
Episcopalian Michael Grear bristled at the archbishop’s remarks: “Who can be surprised by his ridiculous statement? … No wonder so many of our youth don’t find the church appealing. They have eyes and minds to think, and they see many of our church leaders sadly lack true charity…for all of God’s children.”
The learned bishops of the Episcopal Church must have a different Bible than ours. /sarc
“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22
“If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltness is upon them.” Leviticus 20:13
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper.” Romans 1:26-28
H/t FOTM’s MomOfIV
~Éowyn
