More News From ECUSA (Are the lunatics running the asylum?)

Gay and lesbian Episcopalians warn church not to scapegoat them
UPI Religion & Spirituality Forum


SAN FRANCISCO, April 8 (UPI) — The Episcopal Church's gay and lesbian lobby is vowing to fight any retreat from the denomination's recent embrace of homosexuality.

A report by a 14-member commission late last week urged dioceses to proceed with caution when choosing bishops whose "manner of life presents a challenge" to the wider church.

The commission was referring to the election of priests as bishops who are known to be homosexual. The commission was formed to propose recommendations to the Episcopal Church, which is the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, about efforts of a majority of the Communion to expel the Episcopal Church for consecrating an openly gay man as bishop three years ago.

The Episcopal Church will consider the commission's recommendations this summer when it meets in Ohio.
Of particular concern to the denomination's leaders are May 6 elections in the Diocese of California for a new bishop; three of the leading candidates are openly homosexual.

The commission's report provoked the church's gay and lesbian lobby, and prompted one homosexual activist to link the fate of gays and lesbians in the Episcopal Church with that of women clergy.

"Of most interest to the Diocese of California is the report's call for 'nominating committees, electing conventions, Standing Committees, and bishops with jurisdiction to exercise very considerable caution in the nomination, election, consent to, and consecration of bishops whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion,'" said the Rev. John Kirkley, president of Oasis/California.

"Exercising caution when electing a bishop is always wise counsel; it should not mean ignoring the church's canons protecting all Episcopalians against discrimination on the basis of gender or sexual orientation," he added.

"Electing a woman as bishop would present a challenge to large parts of the Anglican Communion, but most Episcopalians would not vote against a female candidate just because she is a woman. The unity of the Anglican Communion cannot be based on scapegoating women or gay and lesbian people."