The Episcopalian General Covention took a vote on the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage and came to consensus congregants who are homosexual can now marry within their church, and receive all the benefits and sacraments that go with that.
“We’re all included now,” said Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago, a lesbian whose partner is a fellow Episcopal priest, in the Associated Press. “For the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our congregation now know under the eyes of God and in every single state in this blessed country, they are welcome to receive all the sacraments.
The vote in Salt Lake City at the church’s convention passed the House of Deputies and shortly after, the House of Bishops. with a 129-26 voice, AP said.
Rev. Brian Baker of Sacramento, who chairs the church committee responsible for drafting the gay marriage changes, called the vote a good thing for Episcopalians.
“We have learned to not only care for, but care about one other,” he said, AP reported. “That mutual care was present in the conversations we had. Some people disagreed, some people disagreed deeply, but we prayed and we listened and we came up with compromises that we believe make room and leave no one behind.”
Not all saw the action as in line with biblical principles, however.
“The fight has not ended, it’s starting,” said Rev. Jose Luis Mendoza-Barahona of Honduras, speaking in opposition to the church’s change in policy. “Those of us in the church who are loyal followers of Christ are going to remain firm in not recognizing what happened today.”
The vote specifically takes out any type of language in the church marriage laws that references gender. Instead of using the terms “husband” and “wife,” the new text will only cite “the couple,” AP said. The church also approved a prayer service for marriage that would be similarly gender-neutral.
The new rules, which take effect Nov. 29, let clergy decline to perform the unions.
The United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. also allow gay marriages; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lets congregations choose for themselves whether or not to allow the same-sex weddings.
See WND’s extensive coverage of “same-sex marriage” since the Supreme Court decision to legalize it across the U.S.:
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Justice Thomas slammed as ‘clown in blackface’
Famous Iwo Jima flag goes gay
Polygamous trio applies for marriage license
Forecasts dead on! Polygamists’ demand cites Supremes
‘Blame Supremes’ for clash with 1st Amendment
Mom scorched for 8-year-old in ‘gay’ march
Franklin Graham: ‘Gay’ rainbow ends badly
Glenn Beck slams Disney on Cinderella’s rainbow castle
Serious pushback over same-sex marriage
Fox News anchor stands up for ‘gay’ marriage
Deserters! Republicans jump ship on marriage
Pentagon urged to boot chaplains who oppose ‘gay’ marriage
Rand Paul: Shut down government’s marriage racket
Rush Limbaugh: Here’s what’s next for marriages
How deceitful Obama became ‘gay marriage president’
Texas attorney general: Marriage ruling ‘lawless’
Lawmaker: Congress can halt same-sex ‘marriage’ in tracks
Family group: Marriage ‘persecution’ starts
Cruz amendment makes Supreme Court subject to elections
Schlafly: Marriage ruling ‘not the end, it’s the beginning
Resistance! No marriage licenses for anyone
The Big List of marriage-ruling reactions
Scalia: Marriage ruling ‘threat to democracy’
What presidential candidates, others, are saying
Obama hails high court: ‘#LoveWins’
Supreme Court: ‘Gay marriage’ legal nationwide
