Father David Pittman – the rector of St. Peter’s – speaks carefully when asked if his parish performs gay unions. No, because gay marriage is illegal in North Carolina.
But, “that doesn’t mean that we don’t have services from time to time to celebrate with a couple – who happen to be the same gender – their relationship.”
But, he says, that’s not what St. Peter’s is about.
“Our business here is worshipping God the best way we can and serving those around us, especially those who are in need,” says Pittman.
Over at All-Saints Anglican, Father [Filmore] Strunk is surrounded by parishioners and casseroles for an after-meeting potluck. He may be a lot more conservative, but his focus is quite similar to Father Pittman’s.
“I haven’t preached a sermon on gay marriage in two years, I guess?” says Strunk. “Most of my sermons are about ordinary folks trying to make sense of their lives and follow God’s will.”
This sounds about two faced, North Carolina doesn’t allow gay marriage but that doesn’t mean we don’t have services blessing them? Get real. What he is saying is that he knows better than God or the State of North Carolina for that matter. This is about two faced, luke warm or any other dispariging name you can come up with. Stand up for Christ or turn in your vestments.
The cummulative effect of all of these local news stories cannot be bringing good cheer to the heartland and southern dioceses of TEC. I am sure that many fine folks in the Episcopal Church in the Charlotte area (those that attend occasionaly and especially at Christmas – and cut sizeable year end checks) are sitting down with their coffee and going “they are blessing same sex relationships” and having a very rude awakening.