In making a \u201cpledge not to authorize for use in our dioceses any public rites of blessing of same-sex unions\u201d\u009d at this time, they noted that the church has never adopted any rite for such blessings.<\/p>\n
[But the Primates already knew this, what they were concerned about was local pastoral provision for same sex blessings which is occurring even without any General Convention authorized rite–KSH]<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Whether the bishops\u2019 response will satisfy either the Anglican primates or dissident Episcopalians remains in question.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great example of apostolic leaders acting like lawyers,\u201d\u009d said the Rev. Kendall Harmon, a conservative theologian from the Diocese of South Carolina. \u201cThey\u2019re hiding behind language that\u2019s parsed and [this attempt to pretend using language as a weapon is–KSH]<\/i> insulting.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The bishops\u2019 \u201creluctant bargaining effort to keep their foot in the door,\u201d\u009d of the Anglican Communion, will just lead to increased chaos in the U.S. and abroad, Harmon said.<\/p>\n
But the statement\u2019s seemingly overwhelming support from conservative and liberal bishops proves that it strikes a balance on a divisive issue, said Jim Naughton, a spokesman for the Diocese of Washington.<\/p>\n
\u201cMuch of the church would like to move forward on issues of full inclusion,\u201d\u009d he said. \u201cWe would like to authorize blessings for gay relationships, we would like to say that all orders of ministry in our church are open to our gay and lesbian members. We\u2019re not happy with the statue quo. But tactically this seemed by far the wisest thing to do.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
Read it all<\/a>. But Jim Naughton is not telling the truth about the Bishops not telling the truth. It is not the status quo. It is still creating facts on the ground in multiple dioceses which put into practice something Anglicans have never agreed to do and the Bible has never been understood by the Church to permit. That is why Integrity entitled its press release<\/a> “INTEGRITY APPLAUDS BISHOPS’ STRONG STAND AGAINST PRIMATES”<\/i>.<\/p>\n