Alabama bishop defends Episcopal Church statement in support of ordaining homosexuals

Although critics have blasted the Episcopal Church for its statement in support of ordaining homosexuals this week at its General Convention, Alabama Bishop Henry N. Parsley defended the denomination's stance as valuing the rights of all its members.

"We passed a large and subtle resolution, wanting to value the ministries of gays and lesbians," Parsley said in an interview.

The Episcopal Convention, meeting in Anaheim, Calif., passed a resolution Tuesday that "any ordained ministry" in the 2.3 million-member denomination is open to homosexuals.

Read it all here ....

Does your Nea mean Yea!???

Yesterday several Bishops of the the Episcopal Organization signed and declared what they call they call the Anaheim Statement. You can read it all here ... but here are the highlights:

The statement:

• reaffirmed the bishops’ “constituent membership in the Anglican Communion, our communion with the See of Canterbury, and our commitment to preserving these relationships”;

• reaffirmed their “commitment to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of Christ as this Church has received them”;

• reaffirmed their “commitment to the three moratoria requested of us by the Instruments of Communion”;

• reaffirmed their “commitment to the Anglican Communion Covenant process currently underway, with the hope of working toward its implementation across the Communion once a Covenant is completed”;

• reaffirmed their “commitment to ‘continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship’ which is foundational to our baptismal covenant, and to be one with the apostles in ‘interpreting the Gospel’ which is essential to our work as bishops of the Church of God.”

This of course is an attempt to appease the faithful back home, before they head for the exits. Let me say just a few things here, as for re-affirming your commitment to the Gospel Message as received by Christ - Baloney! Bishops you can not have your cake and eat it too ... regardless of what you think your Organization has received - it in now way reflects the Gospel of our Lord - which has not changed, will not change and can not change! You can not call an orange an apple for the sake of selling more oranges.

At least 7 of you voted for C056 or D025- which calls for the Organization of which you are a member to create liturgies for blessing GLBT's unions and marriages and committed relationships ... or opening the ordination process for all "baptized persons" (couldn't at least one of you also made it "CONFIRMED AND BAPTIZED?") which is contray to God's law, and don't blame the Holy Spirit for a new revelation - as being of God and with God - the Spirit does not Change EITHER!
The 7 that signed this seem to be sitting on an imaginary fence, one that does not exist ... Those 7 are:

1. The Rt. Rev Dorsey Henderson, Upper South Carolina (Voted Yes on D025 and C056)
2. The Rt. Rev Don Johnson, West Tennessee (Voted Yes on D025)
3. The Rt. Rev Alfredo Morante, Litoral Ecuador (Voted Yes on C056)
4. The Rt. Rev Henry Parsley, Alabama (Voted Yes on C056)
5. The Rt. Rev Pierre Whalon, Convocation of American Churches in Europe (Voted Yes on D025 and C056)
6. The Rt. Rev Sylestre Romero, Assistant-- New Jersey (Voted Yes on D025)
7. The Rt. Rev John Sloan, Suffragan--Alabama (Voted Yes on C056)

I invite all of you who are in authority to return to the Gospel, as it was proclaimed by Christ and the Apostles. Leave your degrees on the carpet and read the Word, learn the Word, teach the Word and and then Preach the Word.

I have far more respect for those Deputies in So Carolina that were not allowed to read their statement to the house on this the Last Day of Gen Con 09 ..

They wanted to say :

Madam President

South Carolina stands before you with broken hearts. By passing Resolution D025 and C056 this General Convention has overturned the clear and consistent teaching of Holy Scripture and the Christian Church. We will have repudiated the teaching and practice of the Anglican Communion. The Communion's patience and generosity toward the Episcopal Church makes our persistent refusal to heed their requests to us to honor the called for moratoria all the more devastating.

Many of us us here this morning, and in Dioceses, parishes, and pews throughout the Episcopal Church, disavow this General Convention's actions. Will will now prayerfully seek ways to be faithful to the Anglican Communion and to the mutual responsibility and interdependence to which we are called, no matter what the cost.

I pray God to continue to bless and lead those deputies from So Carolina.

Defense of Marriage Statutes

All Episcopalians are now called to speak out against the Defense of Marriage, which has the Episciopal Church official telling those who are politically or socially conservative or even Republican Episcopalians to act against their conscience.

So whether or not you think Marriage is between a man or a woman - as an Episcopalian your "church" now decrees it is your responsibility and calling to speak out against the Defense of marriage Act .....

House of Deputies TEC Gen Con

55 needed majority in lay
55 needed majority in clerical

Lay 70 yes, 28 no, 11 divided (no)
54% passes
Clerical 60 yes, 35 no, 14 divided (no)
55% passes





C023 reads:

Resolved, the House of _______ concurring, That this 76th General Convention reject the belief that the existence of marriage, civil union, or domestic partnership between same-sex individuals has a detrimental effect on opposite-sex marriage; and be it further


Resolved, That the Convention call on Congress to repeal the so-called "Defense of Marriage" statute passed on September 21, 1996 [Public Law No. 104-199, 110 Stat. 2419, codified at 1 U.S.C. § 7 and 28 U.S.C. § 1738C]; and be it further


Resolved, That the Convention call on all Episcopalians to work against the passage of so-called "Defense of Marriage" state statutes and state constitutional amendments, and, in states where such statutes or constitutional amendments already exist, to work for their repeal.

EXPLANATION

"Defense of Marriage" statutes and constitutional amendments increasingly have little relationship to marriage, let alone its "defense." Most of the amendments and citizen propositions passed in the last five years have included provisions such as that in the 2004 Ohio amendment, and "this state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status or relationship of unmarried individuals that intends to proximate the design, qualities, significance or effect of a marriage." This is intended to prohibit the recognition of domestic partnerships, civil unions and all benefits for partners of state employees - even when those benefits are achieved through collective bargaining. Ironically, even non-LGBT Ohioans have been affected since the courts ruled that unmarried persons may not seek protection from state-sponsored spousal abuse programs. The federal Defense of Marriage law has the effect of denying various benefits for same-sex partners - joint tax filing, survivor benefits under social security, and the state tax exemptions.

HT to Babyblue!

Two Reporters on Gen Con ...

George Conger is probably *the* religious journalist with the best insight and reflection on all things Anglican. This chat with Kevin Kallsen of Anglican TV is well worth your time.

Two TEC Bishops lament recent decisions

Bishop Peter Beckwith, Episcopal Diocese of Springfield and Bishop Bill Love, Episcopal Diocese of Albany share their thoughts after the ratification of D025:



Thanks to BabyBlue!

Epsicopal Leader defines Heresy!

Great Response By Rev. Canon Julian Dobbs on CBN.

Piper on witness to other faiths.

"Are you saying that unless I follow Jesus Christ I am going to Hell?" John Piper answers: