Episcopal Church

When the Anglican Communion Institute (ACI) hit the Episcopal center stage several years ago, it arrived smack-dab in the center of their version of Stage Three of the Five Stages to Decision that we mull over from time to time here at the Cafe. It was time for dealing - there was still hope left in The Episcopal Church, after all, it just needed to be a bit kinder, a bit gentler. All those unhelpful veterans of the TEC furniture-smashing uprisings were quickly departing or being shown the back door, while there in the shadows was emerging this newly renamed, newly relocated ACI Gang ... Read Full Story

The election of a second openly gay bishop in the Anglican Church drew a stern warning from the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the 77 million Anglicans worldwide. The move from the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles to elect 55-year-old Reverend Canon Mary Glasspool, who has been in a relationship with another woman since 1988, comes months after the US church lifted a ban on gay bishops. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, wary of the schism that threatened to break the Church when the first gay bishop was ordained six years ago, issued a statement apparently aimed at making the Los Angeles diocese rethink. ... Read Full Story

BREAKING NEWS The final Anglican Covenant has been released to the public with a Section IV restored. The Archbishop of Canterbury speaks to it here: BB NOTE: One of the more interesting developments is the centralized authority of what is now called The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion. Section 4.2.2 defines The Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion as being "responsible to the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates’ Meeting, shall monitor the functioning of the Covenant in the life of the Anglican Communion on behalf of the Instruments. In this regard, the Standing Committee shall be supported by such other committees or ... Read Full Story

The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles has elected the first openly lesbian bishop since the national church lifted a ban that sought to bar homosexuals from the church's highest ordained ministry, the church announced. Members of the church, who met here for their annual convention, elected the Reverend Canon Mary Glasspool, 55, who has openly maintained a relationship with another woman since 1988. Another gay candidate, the Reverend John Kirkley of San Francisco, withdrew late Friday, the church announcement said. Glasspool received 153 votes in the clergy order and 203 lay votes, meeting the required majority of ballots after the Convention's necessary quorum was ... Read Full Story

The election Sunday of a second openly gay bishop in the Anglican Church drew a stern warning from the Archbishop of Canterbury, head of the 77 million Anglicans worldwide. The move from the Episcopal diocese of Los Angeles to elect 55-year-old Reverend Canon Mary Glasspool, who has been in a relationship with another woman since 1988, comes months after the US church lifted a ban on gay bishops. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, wary of the schism that threatened to break the Church when the first gay bishop was ordained six years ago, issued a statement apparently aimed at making the Los Angeles diocese ... Read Full Story

LONDON (Reuters) - Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said on Sunday the election of a lesbian priest as an assistant bishop in Los Angeles' Episcopal Diocese raised very serious questions for the global Anglican church. The election of the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool by U.S. Anglicans on Saturday could widen a worldwide schism in the church over the ordaining of gay clergy and related issues. A number of disaffected American congregations have already left the Episcopal fold, the U.S. branch of the Anglican communion. Anglican churches in regions like Africa have also broken ties with their more liberal brethren. Pope Benedict has even offered ... Read Full Story

From here - remember "gracious restraint" in Anglican-speak means "don't do it": The following resolution was passed by the Standing Committee of the Anglican Communion meeting in London on 15-18 December, and approved for public distribution. Resolved that, in the light of: The recent episcopal nomination in the Diocese of Los Angeles of a partnered lesbian candidate The decisions in a number of US and Canadian dioceses to proceed with formal ceremonies of same-sex blessings Continuing cross-jurisdictional activity within the Communion The Standing Committee strongly reaffirm Resolution 14.09 of ACC 14 supporting the three moratoria proposed by the Windsor Report and the associated request ... Read Full Story