The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles elected a lesbian as assistant bishop Saturday, the second openly gay bishop in the global Anglican fellowship, which is already deeply fractured over the first.
The Rev. Mary Glasspool of Baltimore needs approval from a majority of national church leaders before she can be consecrated as assistant bishop in the Los Angeles diocese.
Still, her victory underscored a continued Episcopal commitment to accepting same-sex relationships despite enormous pressure from other Anglicans to change their stand.
Oh my dear, what a surprise!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t wait to hear about the reaction from the rest of the Communion.
Even more interesting will be the reaction of TEC bishops (in particular) and standing committees. Will they honor the moratorium or thumb their noses at the Communion?
(G)reat (A)nd (Y)ummy for them!
Now what?
[blockquote] Now what?[/blockquote]
So the Titanic goes from 1/2 a mile underwater to 3/4 of a mile underwater. Now what? More like “So what?”
Won’t make a whit of difference. TEC will not be booted from the Anglican Communion – why now? What’s different? If one openly gay bishop wasn’t enough, why will two matter? Rowan Williams has made clear he will not (can not?) act in any substantive way to encourage discipline of TEC. The Global South is willing to recognize those whom they see as faithful Anglicans and let the “Communion” do what it will.
I’m just really content tonight to be in ACNA!
Fr. Darin Lovelace+
Park City, UT
….rampin’ up the Irrelevancy….
I’ll get out the Kool-Aid so we can all have a toast.
I’m with you, frdarin+. I’m also glad to be in the ACNA. I think it’s time for another GAFCON/Global South meeting……to organize a new Communion once and for all. It’s time to shed the burial shroud and get new clothes. The results of this election…..whether or not Glasspool is confirmed…..are not going to sit well with GAFCON and the Global South, so the sooner positive action is taken, the better.
Now is the time to double up our prayers for Archbishop Chew and the covenant review committee. I do not know how things have been going inside the committee but certainly the pressure is now on them. I am not so much asking for prayers for a specific outcome, but for strength, wisdom, and clarity for Abp Chew. The Global South/GAFCON are waiting to make their next move after the WC process plays itself out. They have been counseled not to be impatient or to act in a premature manner. John Chew is a key leader within the Global South and sits on that review committee. If the Committee weakens the Covenant (section 4), then the Archbishop and the Global South will need to be ready to act one way–if the Committee keeps it the same or strengthens it, then the Global South will need another response (and so will we in the US). TEC has further clarified their direction; now we wait for the AC; and then the Global South/GAFCON. Praise be to God that He is over all and exercises His sovereignty in all things.
Cue sarcasm – “TEC path receives another ringing endorsement from the Holy Spirit. Another gay bishop for the TEC.” Another nail in the ecumenical coffin.
Loren+, it has been my impression (from reading the blogs) that the Review Committee has (already) recently met, and from which the silence is deafening, while the JSC is preparing to meet (on the 21st?) to scramble the eggs of their recommendation. I have not seen an actual blog post highlighting this interplay, and would appreciate knowing more.
I think it is interesting that the consecration has already been scheduled for May 15.
#12, I suspect it is SOP for the tentative consecration date to be scheduled by the time the electing convention meets. At least, I remember a prior time when the date was announced at a diocesan convention immediately after the announcement of the election result and the winner’s acceptance.
Br_er Rabbit: yes I received confirmation that the Review Committee met last week in England, overlapping with the new InterAnglican Committee on Unity Faith and Order, and concluding before the convention in LA. Their report/recommendation has not yet been released. Still praying for ++John–whose diocese just celebrated their centennial at the end of November.
Thanks, Loren+. Prayers ascending…