Gay Debate Heats Up At Episcopal Convention

http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4217
Churches Find Little Unity On Homosexuality

When the Episcopal Church opens its General Convention today in Columbus, Ohio -- and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders begin their General Assembly on Thursday in Birmingham, Ala. -- about all the faithful can agree on is this: They'll argue as they've argued at past summer conventions over how the church should relate to gays. Can they serve as clergy and lay leaders? Can their unions be blessed in the church?

Episcopalians will debate a moratorium on creating prayer services for blessing same-sex unions and ordination of openly gay bishops. Presbyterians will consider a task force report that proposes more flexibility for local church authorities.

"There's no common ground," said the Rev. Parker Williamson of Lenoir, a longtime activist in the conservative wing of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that opposes gay ordination. "There are only two separate ways of reading Scripture."

Episcopalians will choose a new presiding bishop Sunday from seven candidates, including Bishop Henry Parsley of Birmingham, Ala., former pastor of Christ Episcopal in Charlotte. Parsley opposed Robinson's ordination. Among proposals that could come up are calls for a moratorium on creating official prayer services for blessing of same-sex unions and ordination of openly gay bishops.

In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- home to 2.3 million nationwide and 245,000 in the Carolinas -- a Peace, Unity and Purity task force proposes that churches and presbyteries have more leeway in deciding who can be ordained as a deacon, elder or minister.

The plan wouldn't alter the church constitution that requires "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness." But it would give lay leaders in local churches and presbyteries greater flexibility in deciding ordination questions, said the Rev. Douglas Oldenburg of Davidson.

Oldenburg, former moderator of the General Assembly, said the proposal is drawing fire from both sides. He said so-called left-wingers are upset because the plan doesn't change the church constitution. Right-wingers, as he called them, are upset because some churches and presbyteries could ordain gays if they don't consider that issue essential to the ordination process.

FULL STORY at

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/living/religion/14804765.htm

UCC opposes same-sex ban
GREEN LAKE - Delegates from United Church of Christ congregations around Wisconsin have gone on record against the proposed state constitutional amendment defining marriage that will be on the ballot in November.

The UCC joins the Wisconsin United Methodist Conference and the Wisconsin Jewish Conference in going on record against the amendment. Regional ecclesiastical bodies of the Presbyterian Church USA and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have gone on record against the amendment, as have a number of church-related groups.

Published: June 12, 2006
FULL STORY at

http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=87375&ntpid=1