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(Photo: Episcopal Life Online / Matthew Davies)House of Bishops finalize response 'to questions and concerns raised by our Anglican Communion partners' in the closing session of its September 20-25 meeting in New Orleans.
The Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops has pledged not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions until a broader consensus emerges in the worldwide Anglican Communion, or until the primary governing and legislative Episcopal body takes further action.
In their response Tuesday “to questions and concern raised by our Anglican Communion partners,” Episcopal bishops also said they agreed that a resolution on the election of bishops calls upon church officials "to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate to the episcopate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
“The House acknowledges that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom B033 (the resolution) pertains,” they added.
While some interpreted the statements to mean that The Episcopal Church – the U.S. arm of Anglicanism – would put a stop to the ordination of homosexual clergy, conservative Christians were quick to point out that the bishops simply said that they agree that they have been called upon not to consecrate non-celibate homosexuals who would stir up more controversy. A pledge was only made regarding the blessing of same-sex unions, but that response also has been criticized as some claim same-sex blessings will continue in the dioceses that currently engage in them.
"They're offering business as usual,” commented Bishop Martyn Minns of the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, a prominent conservative group supported by the Archbishop of Nigeria, according to the New York Times. “The communion asked them to make a change, to embrace the teaching of the communion about homosexuality, and there's no change at all."
Respected theologian Dr. R. Albert Mohler, the president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, further noted that “judging by the initial media response, the statement released Tuesday night falls short of ‘clear and unambiguous,’” as the Episcopal bishops said they hoped it would be.
A number of media outlets, such as the British Broadcasting Corp., had reported that the U.S. church body had “agreed to halt the ordination of gay clergy to prevent a split in the Anglican Church.”
Tuesday’s announcement came after Episcopal bishops, meeting for the past six days in New Orleans, found "common ground to stand on," according to the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori.
“High ground,” she added.
"Not everyone is 100 percent happy with every word in this document,” Jefferts Schori noted, “but we believe we have found a place that all of us can stand together – at the foot of the cross."
The threat of a worldwide split has been hanging over the 77 million member Anglican Communion since the ordination of V. Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in The Episcopal Church in 2003.
Adherents of the Christian faith have historically taught that homosexuality is a sin according to Scripture, and conservative Christians hold onto the belief that homosexuals should not be allowed to hold positions of leadership within the Church. They also feel that the Church should not bless homosexual relationships, as this would be tantamount to blessing a sinful act. Continue »
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