Episcopal Church Walks with American Clergy on Gay and Lesbian Equality

"Despite worldwide calls from conservative Anglicans that the American church is choosing to “walk apart” from the wider community, the numbers don't agree—at least not in America." (RD, 7.21.09)

Last week, the Episcopal Church lifted a de facto moratorium on ordaining gay and lesbian bishops, and voted to give bishops wide discretion regarding local clergy blessing same-sex unions, especially in states where same-sex marriage or union is legal, giving them permission to provide an important pastoral duty to gay and lesbian couples.

Because of these measures many conservatives in the States but also around the world in the Anglican Communion have accused the Episcopalians of deviating from the rest of Anglicanism on this issue. However, Robert P. Jones and Daniel Cox in a Religion Dispatches article suggest that the statistics don't agree with the conservative position. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of Episcopal clergy say that gays and lesbians should be eligible for ordination without special requirements. Also, the views of Episcopalian clergy are fairly approximate to the views of clergy from most mainline Protestant denominations. Among clergy in the seven largest mainline denominations, all except two show majority support for ordaining gay and lesbian clergy with no special requirements. Episcopal clergy express stronger support than every other denomination except the United Church of Christ (UCC).

In my denomination, Unity, which is part of the New Thought movement, has always supported the ordination of ministers based on their character and spiritual evolution, not on sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, etc. Indeed, Unity has never had any rules or regulations in place that have limited one's eligibility for the ministry based on their sexual orientation, an issue of being not choice. It's simply not in line with the conviction that God is omnipresent in all creation and that we all are created children of God. I must say, I'm quite proud to be a part of such a legacy of equality, justice, and love in ministerial leadership training.

Check out Jones and Cox's intriguing and informative essay at Religion Dispatches.

(Above image from Religion Dispatches.)

Episcopal Church to Affirm Gay Clergy

"The Episcopal Church moved Monday toward affirming their acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide for a decisive moratorium on consecrating another openly gay bishop." (AP)

Bishops at the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, CA voted 99-45 for a statement declaring that God calls gay and lesbian people into ministry. Lay and ordained delegates to the meeting had approved a similar statement.

Certain forces within the Anglican Communion have been pushing Episcopalians to retract their support for gays and lesbians since 2003, when the U.S. denomination consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

This issue will likely split the Anglican Communion and the Episcopal Church, but it is important for Episcopalian individuals and communities to stand up for LGBT rights and affirm the equality of all persons as created by God as God's children. As such, ministerial ordination as representatives leading people's lives toward right relationship with God in Christ should not be a matter of sexual orientation but one's values, commitment, and character.

Rachel Zoll of the Associated Press has the story.

LGBT Christian Magazine Whosoever Wins 2009 Pride Choice Award

Whosoever: An Online Magazine for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Christians has been named the best gay and lesbian focused nonprofit in the Southeast in GreatNonprofit's 2009 Pride Choice Awards.

Whosoever's entire mission is to affirm LGBT people in their sexuality or gender identity and to assure them of God's unconditional love for them. Whosoever, which was founded in 1996, publishes new issues every other month and works to provide a safe and sacred space for LGBT Christians.

Held during Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in June, the contest asked people to submit reviews and ratings about nonprofits serving the LGBT community. The contest was sponsored by GreatNonprofits.org, GuideStar and Queerty.

Read more at the Religion News Service.

New Studies Out on LGBT Issues and Progressive Congregations

New studies demonstrate how welcoming LGBT people makes a difference to progressive religious congregations. Two surveys were conducted by Religious Institute of Morality, Justice, and Healing and Institute for Welcoming Resources, and they found:

"Congregations that have undertaken formalized efforts to welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members are more active in social justice, more comfortable addressing sexuality issues and less concerned that LGBT advocacy will reduce membership, according to two national surveys released today." (Religion News Service)

These surveys acknowledge a few important points, but the one that most impresses me is that those congregations which advocate for LGBT issues are much more likely to become involved in other social issues like economic injustice, homelessness, racial inequality, immigration, and so on.

Unity has always advocated for LGBT equality and justice, especially within its own walls, ordaining ministers regardless of sexual orientation and maintaining a welcoming attitude and inclusive metaphysical system of belief and practice. The survey did mention that issues of sexual identity (especially in youth populations) was generally considered under addressed and that even progressive congregations would benefit from more educational resources available to members of their community.

Though Unity does have a stellar record of being open and affirming of any and every sexual orientation, I think it could certainly take heed to this study and perhaps faciliate more educational workshops, literature, etc. about LGBT issues in society, both at the national and local levels. I'm aware that many Unity communities do have discussion groups about these topics, but a more universal and Association-wide advocacy in this capacity would serve the cause well and further establish Unity's position among progressive, welcoming religious communities. Nonetheless, Unity has been most definitely in the forefront in setting a magnificent example of what inclusive congregations can be with open hearts and open minds.

The Religion News Service has a more detailed overview of the studies.

Equality Forum 2009 - LGBT Event

Equality Forum 2009, an event advocating the advancement and support of LGBT rights, will be held this year in Philadelphia April 27-May 3. On the final day, May 3, there will be a demonstration at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, "the site where the Gay Pioneers launched our movement in 1965. Call on Congress and our new president to enact trans-inclusive hate crimes and ENDA protections, repeal "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), fund LGBT health issues, and ensure same-sex family equality."