ARKANSAS: Diocese Sees First Gay Union Ceremony

By Auburn Faber Traycik, Editor
The Christian Challenge
www.challengeonline.org
September 19, 2006

The first blessing of a same-sex union in the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas took place September 16 at St. Michael's, Little Rock.

The move came after soon-to-retire Arkansas Bishop Larry Maze gave permission for congregations to explore the possibility of providing blessings for homosexual couples in a letter to clergy in July. Maze issued the permission a month after the Episcopal General Convention failed to subscribe to the moratorium on public rites of same-sex blessing requested by the Anglican Communion's 2004 Windsor Report.

Bishop Maze's July letter gave the impression that parishes desiring to do so would offer quiet "pastoral" responses to gay couples that seek church sanction for their relationships that do not involve "formal rites of blessing."

However, the two men blessed at St. Michael's, Ted Holder and Joe van den Heuvel, sent out invitations to the event, Fr. Wills confirmed - some 200 persons attended - which would seem to make it public and "formal."

Indeed, the service, at which Fr. Wills presided, was called "The Covenanting and Blessing of the Union" of the couple, and a clerical witness reportedly maintained that it was more than a blessing, rather approaching a wedding service; it included hymns, Scripture readings, a homily and Holy Communion. The couple, who have lived together for 15 years, also exchanged rings during the ceremony. Those in attendance were said to include Bishop Maze's wife, the dean of the cathedral, and two or three other clergy.

FULL STORY at
http://www.virtueonline.org/portal/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4725
 
1 Corinthians 11:27-32, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.  For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."