Church leaders in the region voiced support yesterday for a decision handed down over the weekend by Episcopal Bishop M. Thomas Shaw that will allow church clergy in Eastern Massachusetts to officiate at the marriages of same-sex couples.
The bishop’s decision is a controversial one, handed down after the General Convention of the Episcopal Church provided new doctrine to bishops enabling them to make the change. But church leaders from Amesbury, West Newbury and Newburyport say allowing gay couples the same rights as everyone else to commit to one another is the right thing to do.
“I’m very proud of our church for doing the right thing once again,” said the Rev. Victoria Pretti of West Newbury’s All Saints Church of the ruling. “I think people understand there could be reactions ”” positive and negative ”” but the beauty and the joy of being Episcopalian is being a member of a church where people can differ in opinion and still love each other and worship with one another. I view it as a very good and positive thing.”
[i]…but the beauty and the joy of being Episcopalian is being a member of a church where people can differ in opinion and still love each other and worship with one another.[/i]
So, let’s say that in [i]my opinion[/i], my parish should distribute peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead of a consecrated host because, hey, the people in [i]my parish[/i] would prefer a fun little snack instead of all that dreary hand-waving at communion time. So long as we continue to love each other, it’s all okay, right?
Hey, that peanut butter and jelly idea might really get more children to want to come to church for communion!
Nice piece. Thanks for posting it!
Threesomes should not be discriminated against either.
Yes, that would be most un-inclusive! The church should apologize now instead of waiting a century to get around to it after 100 years of hurt is inflicted…
We went to a parish that one Sunday consecrated homemade pretzels. I wish I were making this up… We didn’t go back, but “inclusive” would work as a descriptor…
Actually, some early hosts WERE pretzels. Check out Romanesque illuminations and ivory carvings of liturgical themes. Pretzel-shaped Communion bread was used in England until the 19th century in places. However, I’m sure that Advocate’s experience wasn’t based on an historical reconstruction!
I can top that, #6. I attended what was billed as a “eucharist” at a large urban church, though it was not a Prayer Book liturgy and it seemed to be lacking in some necessary elements (such as any reading from the Gospels, though it had an OT passage and a cool poem about the desert). After the big bread was supposedly consecrated, the leftovers were taken into the parish hall to be served as a side with the soup. Like you, I wish I were making this up…
Hursley’s wife
More on topic than the last post, it is obvious that the author of the article is not an Episcopalian and didn’t listen too closely to some information. V. Gene Robinson wasn’t appointed bishop at any time, and his election was not two years ago. Also, I’m assuming (hoping?) that the one cleric was misquoted and didn’t actually use “Episcopal” as a noun.
[blockquote] “St. Paul’s Church is a very open and affirming place,” said Hubbard yesterday. “We welcome all kinds of people, and for a number of years, we’ve done same-sex blessings.”[/blockquote]
Of course, the only “leaders” that are quoted are Bishop Shaw’s subordinates. Asking them what they think of his ideas is a bit like asking Hillary what she thinks of Obama’s foreign policy.
It is important to see this decision in the light of New York’s recent refusal of ssm. This is a significant failure of The Movement, a failure heralded by Maine’s refusal to sanction ssm. Mass. can do what it wishes, even though it is now increasingly out of touch with the course the rest of the northeast intends to steer. The decision is a simple case of mistaking The Fashionable for The Eternal.
I said earlier that, with the new century, the wind had changed direction, that the popular fashions of the fin de siecle world will at last perish in the brighter air of a new century, and I still think this is exactly what is happening. Will New Jersey give new bounce to ssm? I think not, not after NY. For the Susan Russell’s and VGR’s of the world, it is Too Late. Whether anyone likes it or not, the norm will remain the norm; the top of the bell curve will remain unchanged. Larry