Read more: http://www.spahr.com/revjanie/generalassembly/gapjcdecidion.htm
Let us know what your chapter is doing and we will publish it in a future update!
On behalf of the entire volunteer team that is preparing to go to Lambeth this summer, we wish to express our deep gratitude for all the support received so far. We thank all who have contributed and urge those who have not yet done so to go on-line right now and make your contribution at http://www.integrityusa.org/.
Blessings,
Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal prelate whose consecration led conservatives to split from the church, said in an interview on Thursday that he and his partner of 20 years were planning a civil union ceremony to be held in his home church in the diocese of New Hampshire in June.The New York Times, 4/25/2008:
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The +ABC's words against conservative-inspired violence were given a short piece on the BBC website. The diocese of Saskatoon, at its biennial synod held April 4-6, narrowly
defeated a resolution that would have allowed clergy to bless same-sex civil
marriages.
The vote was 41 against, 38 for and four abstentions, said Lorea Eufemia,
secretary/treasurer of the diocese.
Moved by Canon Colin Clay and seconded by Cathy Hartsook, the resolution
said: "Be it resolved that this 68th Session of the Synod of the Diocese of
Saskatoon request the bishop to allow clergy, whose conscience permits, to
bless the duly solemnized and registered civil marriages between same-sex
couples, where at least one party is baptized, and to authorize rites for
such blessings."
It was the first time the issue had come before the Saskatoon synod, and the
debate lasted nearly an hour and a half, said Ms. Eufemia. Opinions did not
divide along urban and rural lines, she said. "Some members of urban
parishes voted against it and some rural parishes were for it," she said.
She also noted that the debate was characterized by "respect, kindness and
love." The bishop of Saskatoon, Rodney Andrews, who could not immediately be
reached, was pleased by the tone of the debate, she said.
To read the rest of the story, please visit the Anglican Journal Web site,
www.anglicanjournal.com
In response to reports of violence and threats towards Christians involved in the debate on human sexuality, the Archbishop of Canterbury has given the following statement:
“The threats recently made against the leaders of Changing Attitudes are disgraceful. The Anglican Communion has repeatedly, through the Lambeth Conference and the statements from its Primates’ Meetings, unequivocally condemned violence and the threat of violence against gay and lesbian people. I hope that this latest round of unchristian bullying will likewise be universally condemned.”
The Dickinson Press - 04/06/2008
DICKINSON - Though small in number, the officers and most of the 44 active
baptized members of Dickinson's St. John's Episcopal Church are speaking
loudly in opposition to their bishop's decision to not license a partnered
gay priest in Grand Forks.
The Rev. Bruce MacDuffie said their position is not to champion the cause of
the Rev. Gayle Baldwin, 62, an associate professor of religion at the
University of North Dakota. Instead, the Dickinson parish opposes Bishop
Michael Smith's general position on not licensing partnered gay and lesbian
people.
"We can't presume to be the personnel judges of the individual, but the
bishop doesn't cite personnel reasons as the reason for not licensing,"
MacDuffie said. "But rather states plainly that he will not license gay and
lesbian folks who are in faithful and committed relationships."
Baldwin's situation was shared by the Associated Press on March 22, and
members of St. John's felt a need to affirm their stance as supportive of
the ministry of all baptized people, regardless of ethnicity, race, politics
or sexual orientation.
Read the rest at
http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/articles/index.cfm?id=14829.
For further information contact: Reverend Colin Coward, Director of Changing
Attitude England, Office: +44 (0)1380 724908; mobile +44 (0)7770 844302;
colin@changingattitude.org
Changing Attitude is a charitable organisation that works for the inclusion
and affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people in the
Anglican Communion
------------------
Open Letter to the Leadership Team of GAFCON
Dear friends in Christ,
You may know that there were several instances of actual physical violence
and threats of violence and death enacted against lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender (LGBT) leaders of Changing Attitude in Nigeria over the Easter
Weekend 2008. The leader of a Changing Attitude group was violently beaten.
Subsequently, death threats have been issued against the Directors of
Changing Attitude in Nigeria and England.
The discourse taking place in the Anglican Communion about the presence of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our churches must be
conducted in the context of Christian love and mutual respect. If it is not,
then people will continue to perpetrate abuse and violence against LGBT
people.
Some Anglican Christians act in this way because they believe that the
language of criticism articulated against LGBT people in general and the
Episcopal Church in particular gives them permission to perpetrate violence
and abuse against Christians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender. We know that is not your intention, but it is the reality as
many experience it.
Changing Attitude understands that the Anglican Communion is engaged in an
extended period of debate about the place of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender people in our churches. We are committed to engage in this
debate and in the Listening Process which is integral to it and authorised
by the Councils of the church.
Conservative Anglicans will want to argue against the position which
Changing Attitude represents. They will continue to question the pattern of
life and identity adopted by some lesbian and gay Christians. We recognise
the integrity of those who hold this position at the same time as we
disagree with it. We are not resistant to engaging in the debate with those
who hold radically different views.
We recognise that it is extremely difficult to conduct this debate in
language that does not polarise opinions or inflame tensions. Tension will
grow more intense in this period immediately prior to the Lambeth Conference
and the GAFCON event.
The language we use has direct consequences on the lives of LGBT Christians.
Language affects us emotionally, spiritually and physically. We ask that all
of us within the Anglican Communion be mindful of the words we use and the
opinions we express when talking about LGBT people. We ask that all of us
actively discourage any form of threatening behaviour so that we may all
engage in respectful listening and conform the pattern of our lives to the
pattern of love embodied by our Lord Jesus Christ.
None of us wishes to encourage or condone violence and none of us wishes to
be responsible, indirectly, for murder or violence perpetrated on another
person, whatever their sexual identity.
Yours in Christ,
(Signed)
Revd Canon Professor Marilyn MacCord Adams
Rt Revd Michael Bourke
Rt Revd Ian Brackley, Bishop of Dorking
Rt Revd Stephen Conway, Bishop of Ramsbury
Very Revd Vivienne Faull
Rt Revd Lord Harries of Pentregarth
Rt Revd Richard Holloway
Rt Revd Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hulme
Revd Sr Una Kroll
Rt Revd Richard Lewis
Rt Revd Jack Nicholls, Bishop of Sheffield
Rt Revd John Oliver
Rt Revd John Packer, Bishop of Ripon & Leeds
Christina Rees
Rt Revd Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire
Rt Revd John Saxbee, Bishop of Lincoln
Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby
Rt Revd Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth
Revd Dr Anne Townsend
The Revd Canon Angela Weaver
Letter sent to:
Rt Rev Nicodemus Okille, Archbishop Henry Orombi, Rt Rev Wallace Benn, Rt
Rev Martyn Minns, Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Archbishop Greg Venables,
Archbishop Peter Akinola, Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini, Archbishop Peter
Jensen, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi, Archbishop Justice Akrofi, Archbishop
Donald Mtetemela, Rt Revd Michael Nazir Ali
All Integrity members will soon receive an announcement by mail about"Hearts on Fire." This gathering will provide participants with advocacy skills that can be applied in either a Lutheran and Episcopalian context. Bishop Robinson is a featured speaker. Jan Adams, Integrity's Field Organizer, also plans to provide a workshop on Inclusion Activism for Episcopalians (probably while LCNA members are having their business meeting). Lutherans Concerned / North America invites people of all sexual orientations and gender identities to assemble with members of Reconciling in Christ and prospective RIC congregations at San Francisco State University July 3–6 under the theme, Hearts on Fire.
We’ll worship together, using a rich variety of traditions of the worshipping community. We’ll provide a blend of the familiar and the unique drawing on our Lutheran heritage and the wealth of liturgical practice in the area. We’ll network with one another, hear stories of joy and frustration, and make decisions together about the future direction of Lutherans Concerned / North America.
Hearts on Fire is more than a conference. We take pride in nurturing our participants. Many see the biennial assembly as a family reunion. In 2008, we hope to expand that family feeling by offering some new and exciting aspects to the assembly. Some the new aspects include:
Many Stories, One Voice has as its goal transformation – of individual lives, of our pro-lgbt movement and of our culture. Come join us as we joyfully equip the saints for the Ministry of God’s Extravagant Welcome.
Click here for more information!
