Boston's Trinity Church considers Anglican anti-gay demands

[Ian David]

Local Episcopalians who support full equality and social justice for gay people are trying to understand what actually happened last week (Feb. 15 - 19) in Africa, what it means, and how to respond to a directive asking the U.S. church to reject rites or blessings for same-sex unions and stop appointing any more openly gay bishops - all by Sept. 30 or "unless some new consensus on these matters emerges across the Communion."

The effects of a meeting by Anglican primates, meeting in Dar es Salaam, hit close to the heart of Trinity Episcopal Church Boston, where many GLBT people of faith find a sanctuary. This past Sunday about 50 people associated with the gay and lesbian fellowship at the Copley Square church gathered there to discuss developments still unfolding even this week.

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Rev. William W. Rich, Drayton Freeman, Rev. Anne C. Fowler, Jon Ralton, and Director of Communications for Integrity/USA John Gibson (photo: Chuck Colbert)


At the gathering, John Gibson, communications director for Integrity USA, an advocacy organization for gay Episcopalians within the church, said, "It was four days that shook the Anglican world," with primates - national and regional church leaders - "figuring out how to put the Episcopal Church back in the closet."

Indeed the U.S. church has been pushing theological envelopes for decades, ordaining women, blessing same-sex couples, and three years ago elevating to bishop Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire. Robinson's consecration triggered a conservative backlash nationwide and an especially strong reaction by the primate of Nigeria, Archbishop Peter Akinola, who has compared the appointing of openly gay bishops to "a satanic attack on the Church of God."

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The local bishops, meanwhile, released a tepid response, which said in part it was important "for each of us to pause and develop a thoughtful and spiritual interpretation for others about what we read in the news about our church."

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Earlier this week, New Hampshire Bishop Gene Robinson made his first public comment. In a written statement he said, "For the first time in history, and at the hands of the larger {Anglican} Communion, the Episcopal Church may be experiencing a little taste of the irrational discrimination and exclusion that is an every day experience of its gay and lesbian members." Robinson urged church members to stand fast on justice and equality.

More:
http://www.innewsweekly.com/innews/?class_code=Br&article_code=3549

[madrchsod]

1. a church is not the building

it is the people inside. if people see fit to discriminate against god`s children then let them go their way..buildings will rise and fall but god`s love for his children will never fail. to bad there are those who do not believe that god loves everyone.