Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of California
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Elected representatives of the Episcopal Diocese of California today approved use of rites for the blessing of same gender couples by an overwhelming margin. The action opens the way for Diocesan Bishop Marc Andrus to allow these services to be used on a trial basis by Episcopal churches across the Bay Area.
Clergy and lay delegates also approved by a broad majority a resolution countering recent opinions voiced by the Episcopal House of Bishops in New Orleans. Drafted by the Rev. John Kirkley, the resolution both affirmed "the unanimous decision of the (Diocesan) Standing Committee to refuse to discriminate against partnered gay and lesbian bishops-elect" and deplored "the lack of access to adequate pastoral and ritual care for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in large parts of the Episcopal Church and the refusal of the majority of our bishops to make provision for it.
"Today we took two important steps toward full inclusion of LGBT people and their families into the Episcopal Church," Oasis California President Thomas C. Jackson said. Oasis is the LGBT ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California. "With broad support from our straight allies, we placed LGBT couples on an equal footing with heterosexual couples when they ask the church to bless their relationship. Our elected representatives also made clear our collective commitment to including LGBT people as full members of the Episcopal Church."
Approved by a lopsided voice vote in the Diocesans annual convention at Grace Cathedral, the action asks Bishop Andrus to approve rites for blessing same gender couples on a trial basis. "Trial use of a new liturgy is a standard step in development of new liturgical rites by the Episcopal Church," Jackson added. "This is another step toward LGBT equality on the road to the church's national 2009 General Convention in Anaheim, CA."
Developed by the Diocesan Commission on Marriage & Blessing, the convention endorsed three alternative rites for blessing same gender couples, along with Biblical texts for use with these rites. One rite is based on the marriage liturgy from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer and another on one in the New Zealand Prayer Book while a third reflects "A Rite for the Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Covenants" from the Diocese of New Westminster. "We especially appreciate the work of this Commission and its chair people, the Rev. Joseph Lane and the Rev. Lynette Morlan," Jackson added.
The San Francisco vote marks the third time in recent weeks an Anglican diocese has moved to establish rites for blessing same gender couples. Earlier this fall, synods of the Anglican Church serving Ottawa and Montreal in Canada also called on their bishops to approved rites for blessing same gender couples.
Links used in this release:
-- Text of Response to the House of Bishops' Statement: http://revkirkley.blogspot.com/2007/10/158th.html
-- Commission on Marriage & Blessings: http://marriageandblessing.org/
-- Three rites for blessing same gender couples: http://marriageandblessing.org/endorsed_rites.htm
-- Lectionary for use with these rites:
http://marriageandblessing.org/PDFS/CMB%20Lectionary%207-23-07.pdf
-- Oasis California: http://www.oasiscalifornia.org/
| Poster | Thread |
|---|---|
| Fiona | Posted: 2007/10/21 23:14 Updated: 2007/10/21 23:14 |
Home away from home   Joined: 2005/1/18 From: San Francisco Bay Area Posts: 1071 |
 Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ...This is disgusting, but you knew that already. But I am now wondering what is up with Bishop Androgynous--the man who is so into yoga?
Fiona |
| bradhutt | Posted: 2007/10/21 23:21 Updated: 2007/10/21 23:21 |
Just can't stay away   Joined: 2004/5/5 From: Washington D.C. Metro Area Posts: 146 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... This is enough to make any orthodox episcopalian ill. A trial basis my foot. This confirms that these scheming deceivers despite their call for reconcilation had no intention whatsoever to live up to the HOB response to the Primates. This is not "a private response to situations of individual pastoral care" for homosexuals by any stretch of the imagination. We still remember the 1979 BCP that was shoved down our throats on a trial basis.
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| Isaac | Posted: 2007/10/21 23:30 Updated: 2007/10/21 23:30 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/3/1 From: Texas Posts: 628 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... First, "same gender" is improper English, what these heretics mean is "same sex." Second, there is no such thing as "same sex marriage." It is an oxymoron, it is not possible. Sure, two buffoons of the same sex can stand together and play marry eachother, but it is not marriage. Furthermore, it is an insult to Christian values.
The time is very near that Episcopalian cannot mean Christian. Isaac |
| daveball | Posted: 2007/10/22 0:25 Updated: 2007/10/22 0:25 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2004/12/18 From: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2377 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... It would be hard to imagine an anymore "in your face" affront to the Christian faith in general and Anglicanism in particular. Well, I suppose they could hold a bachanalian fest and homosexual orgy in Stonehenge or something with TEc clergy appearing in clown costumes. Maybe Prof. Dumbledore could appear as special guest.
Disgusting. Moving toward ludicrous obsenity. |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2007/10/22 0:41 Updated: 2007/10/22 0:41 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6862 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Daveball, it's worse than that. Unfortunately, common decency prevents me from expressing my true feelings; having come from the San Jose area only four years ago, I can attest to what it's really like. The word "revolting" comes to mind.
Cennydd |
| ZachS | Posted: 2007/10/22 0:55 Updated: 2007/10/22 0:55 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/5/1 From: Posts: 210 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Cennydd:
How long till +Schofield retires? Well doubling that will be the length of time till it happens in whats left of your diocese ole son. Cheers ZachS ps...have a laugh |
| Ikerliker | Posted: 2007/10/22 1:30 Updated: 2007/10/22 1:30 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2007/1/16 From: PA Posts: 2051 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Bishop Androgynous....LOL Fiona, good one!
He is a weirdo, a heretic and so on and so on. Of course, Rowan bear has his head in a book while all this is going on. But then again, he totally agrees with this nonsense so "looking the other way" ala Jon Bruno evidently is a good tactic. Or playing dumb. Whichever you prefer. But is it really playing, LOL! I guess these learned people didn't understand today's reading from 2Timothy 3:14-4:5. That's about as clear as it gets folks. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths. I would these few lines sums up exactly where we are today. Thank you St. Paul! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that. |
| Cennydd | Posted: 2007/10/22 3:50 Updated: 2007/10/22 3:54 |
Home away from home Joined: 2005/10/30 From: Los Banos, CA, Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin Posts: 6862 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... ZachS, you are way off base with your remarks. There are three parishes in this diocese which disagree with Bishop Schofield, and they're free to stay with TEC, along with their properties....so long as they don't leave the diocese with any indebtednes....and he's told them that.
There are undoubtedly people in those three parishes who agree with what the Bishop of California has done, and that's their right. Those three parishes will be all that remains to form any diocese which TEC will re-constitute from the wreckage that they've caused, but it won't be anywhere near enough to sustain it. They will have to be absorbed by another TEC diocese. This area is somewhat sparsely populated, with the exception of Fresno and possibly one or two other smaller cities. The homosexual community is concentrated mainly in Fresno....with others in towns such as Modesto and Turlock, and that's where these parishes are located. The huge majority of us reasserters are out in the smaller towns and cities; roughly 11,500 of us....out of approximately 12,000 in the present diocese, and there's virtually NO support for same-sex "weddings" among us. This diocese will leave TEC in December, so you needn't be concerned about us....and Bishop Schofield will not leave this diocese without making damn sure we're in good hands! Cennydd |
| Howell | Posted: 2007/10/22 4:15 Updated: 2007/10/22 4:15 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/1/13 From: Colorado Posts: 444 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Unbelievable! What a total surprise! I'm flabbergasted! Who wouldda thought......!! Some dim-witted person made the observation recently that the Episcopal Church blesses animals, houses,and boats, so why won't they bless gay marriages? But has anyone every seen houses, boats or animals engage in homosexual acts? Maybe they were thinking of duplexes, the Andrea Doria or two blind English Setters descended from Vickie Gene, whose sense of smell betrayed them momentarily.
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| Howell | Posted: 2007/10/22 4:53 Updated: 2007/10/22 4:53 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/1/13 From: Colorado Posts: 444 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Valis: You claim to have Jesuit influence. But to paraphrase a famous political quote by Lloyd Benson; " I know the Jesuits and YOU are no Jesuit". Leave the spiritual smog of San Francisco and come to the clean air of parts of Colorado (not the parts our Bishop breathes).
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| Rachmnnoff | Posted: 2007/10/22 8:17 Updated: 2007/10/22 8:21 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2007/3/15 From: Mauna Kea@13796 ft. Posts: 338 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Blessed Howell,
There is a Jesuit Monastery in Montserrat, Spain which has a prominently displayed oil painting of Jesus Christ in the Lotus Position. Shows how loopy they are getting. SR |
| railbirdbc | Posted: 2007/10/22 11:43 Updated: 2007/10/22 11:43 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/6/6 From: Posts: 767 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Quite right Rachmnnoff, New Age poison has crept in everywhere. A local bishop where I live once said publicly that New Age religion has a lot to teach us. Then he promptly opened the doors of the diocese to all comers with "new" ideas. That diocese went into a tail spin almost at once, and is now closing up its empty churches faster than any other diocese in Canada. Examples of what happened can be seen in some parish churches placing quotes of Gandhi and Buddha in their naves, and the placing of pagan symbols in their chancel areas. Scripture tells us over and over again that God will not share his glory with other gods.
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| SixDays | Posted: 2007/10/22 13:39 Updated: 2007/10/22 13:39 |
Home away from home  Joined: 2006/2/23 From: Posts: 312 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Cennydd;
I sent you a PM. I am back with my San Joaquin Parrish. The reasons are complex. Is there any indication yet if we will affiliate with another Primate, and is it even necessary? Just curious. SD |
| aterry | Posted: 2007/10/22 18:10 Updated: 2007/10/22 18:10 |
Quite a regular   Joined: 2006/6/19 From: Virginia Posts: 54 |
 Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ...Arrogance, plain and simple. These so-named bishops, in blasting their middle finger's towards the sky, are storing up a frightful and seething retribution that will be poured out on that dreaded day when our Lord will settle all acounts. It is only by means of God's longsuffering that they haven't fallen to his righteous judgment.
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| Rachmnnoff | Posted: 2007/10/22 23:14 Updated: 2007/10/22 23:14 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/3/15 From: Mauna Kea@13796 ft. Posts: 338 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Blessed railbirdbc,
In a way, the *normalization* of homo/lesboerotic relations in tec is very much like New Age poison. The Orthodox Church in Russia had a situation on their hands awhile back: A priest in an Orthodox Church had assented to marrying a homo couple. When word got out, the priest was defrocked and sent to a monastery, the Church was emptied of the Icons, Chalice and Paten, and service attire, doors locked, and then the Church was razed to the ground by order of the Moscow Patriarchate. A horrible act of apostasy had taken place by the homo marriage, which desecrated the Sanctuary. That's certainly a way of sending the message that the True Church will not tolerate sin becoming *normalized.* SR |
| warmac9999 | Posted: 2007/10/22 23:39 Updated: 2007/10/22 23:39 |
Home away from home Joined: 2004/2/16 From: Posts: 1463 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Just another reason to leave TEC --- as if anyone with a love of Jesus and Christian principles would need another reason.
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| patience | Posted: 2007/10/23 23:34 Updated: 2007/10/23 23:34 |
Home away from home Joined: 2006/5/3 From: Posts: 313 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Seems like they are petitioning for a sort of Pagan/New Age Indulgence from their Bishop. Namely, grant us the indulgence and we'll cease screaming at you for a few months.
Lord have mercy upon us. |
| billyum | Posted: 2007/10/24 19:04 Updated: 2007/10/24 19:06 |
Quite a regular Joined: 2007/1/18 From: Morgan Hill, CA Posts: 52 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Lets see now, in the Diocese of California would I be able to marry my son? Or my daughter? or my two daughters marry eachother? Or perhaps I could take a stand against "species-ism" by marrying my cat?
My point is, first, that marriage ultimately is either a moral construct with a moral definition or it is a non-construct with no definition. Moral constructs and moral judgments are, by nature and definition, discriminatory. Secondly, a willingness to state publicly ones moral standards calls forward the possibility that one may be called upon to give offense and to risk making enemies. This being the case, it appears that those of us who have moral standards as to what marriage is (or isn't) had better prepare ourselves to make enemies. |
| Rachmnnoff | Posted: 2007/10/25 5:23 Updated: 2007/10/25 5:23 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/3/15 From: Mauna Kea@13796 ft. Posts: 338 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Ummm - billyum,
TEC has already thought about people who want to marry their pets - see below: http://www.marryyourpet.com/ We live in a sick, sick, sick, sick, sick world. Lord Have Mercy!!! SR |
| billyum | Posted: 2007/10/25 11:18 Updated: 2007/10/25 11:18 |
Quite a regular Joined: 2007/1/18 From: Morgan Hill, CA Posts: 52 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Aw shucks, I should've known. Those TECers are absolutely a step ahead of everybody, aren't they ?!
Perhaps I should round up up a whole group of friends and we'll all mutually declare ourselves to be "married." Then we could collectively raise, or adopt, whole groups of children. Since moral definitions have been removed from marriage, then that arrangement should "pass muster" with the Diocese of California since it's only a difference of numbers. If two people can enter a "covenant relationship," then why not 5, 10, 50, or 100? (Come to think of it, this is what John Humphrey Noyes and the Oneida community were doing about 150 years ago.) |
| Rachmnnoff | Posted: 2007/10/25 17:53 Updated: 2007/10/25 17:54 |
Home away from home Joined: 2007/3/15 From: Mauna Kea@13796 ft. Posts: 338 |
Re: Same Gender Blessings Backed by Episcopal Diocese of ... Wow - John Humphrey Noyes and the Oneidas - 150 years ago? It's been that long, eh?
Golly Gee, the stripes never fade from the *Liberal Zebra*. They will try every perverted notion over and over again until somebody swallows. Lord Have Mercy! SR |
