Episcopal / Anglicans, what is your view on the ordination of gay bishops and priest?

[Mannyfit75]

The question is pretty clear. What is your opinion on the ordination of priest and allowing gays to become bishops?

Does this sadden your Church, how will you respond to this? If I were in your shoes, I would pray very very hard and more often since there isn’t much you can do about it, except through prayer.

 

[d_mccull_au]

As with most people in the Anglican Communion, I am against the ordination of practicing homosexuals to the priesthood/episcopate.

I pray that the ECUSA will yield to the rest of the Anglican Communion and change its position, however if it fails to do this, it must be expelled.

 

[sacredcello]

I am a Catholic convert from the Episcopal Church and I see the current crisis as very interesting. My grandfather was an Episcopal priest (until his death last year) and he disliked the Archbishop of Canterbury for not taking a stand one way or the other. In his silence, he is contributing to the breaking apart of the Anglican communion.

In the diocese where my parents live, the Episcopal bishop has condemned the ordination of gays as well as women. For this reason, my parents have stopped going to church.

My parents’ reasoning is based on the influence of the secular culture. It stands to reason that if the Episcopal Church had not ordained gays or women that my parents would still be going to church. However, they might have found some other excuse.

 

[Hellisreal]

As with most people in the Anglican Communion, I am against the ordination of practicing homosexuals to the priesthood/episcopate.

I pray that the ECUSA will yield to the rest of the Anglican Communion and change its position, however if it fails to do this, it must be expelled.

What is your stand on female “ordination”?

 

[DJgang]

I’m not going to say what I really think, because the last time I did that, I got a conduct warning from the Mods…and that was a few years ago.

I just want to say, I know many Episcopalians that would be Catholic if they didn’t have a history that required things such as annulements, etc and I know some Episcopalians who, at the time of Gene R’s ordination, they went to the Catholic Church or to an Evanglical church in our area…but those of us who are tired of it…we are coming home!

 

[GKC]

Ordaining gay men is nothing new, in both the Anglican world, and the RCC world. Ordaining openly practicing gays is, and it’s a dreadful error. Ordaining females, of any sort, is impossible.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

 

[Mannyfit75]

Ordaining gay men is nothing new, in both the Anglican world, and the RCC world. Ordaining openly practicing gays is, and it’s a dreadful error. Ordaining females, of any sort, is impossible.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus

The Catholic Church condemns priest who openly practice homosexuality. They themselves have broken their vow of celibacy. Celibacy is a gift. Any Catholic priest who does this is break this seal with God and His Church. He is committing a grave sin. He ought not to continue this lifestyle least he condemned himself to Hell forever.

 

[rr1213]

My signature tells my story with respect to this matter…

 

[GKC]

The Catholic Church condemns priest who openly practice homosexuality. They themselves have broken their vow of celibacy. Celibacy is a gift. Any Catholic priest who does this is break this seal with God and His Church. He is committing a grave sin. He ought not to continue this lifestyle least he condemned himself to Hell forever.

Totally agree.

GKC

 

[Nella]

The question is pretty clear. What is your opinion on the ordination of priest and allowing gays to become bishops?

Does this sadden your Church, how will you respond to this? If I were in your shoes, I would pray very very hard and more often since there isn’t much you can do about it, except through prayer.

Ah, good question my friend. I will be honest with you as always. I am very distraught with it. If I was a parishioner at a church where the clergy was either gay or where gay unions were performed, I would definitely leave that church no doubt. It’s more than my disagreement with it all, it is un-Biblical and it is not what God has intended for us. I could not listen to a homily gien by an actively gay priest or bishop period. This is why I am very glad and proud to be a parishioner of the church where I am. My priest (Fr. Andrew Gross) does not condone active gay clergy and has flatly refused to design a liturgy for same sex unions and will not perform not a one of them. We have lost about a half dozen parishioners because of his stand against this, but this does not deter him from doing and preaching what is right. Our parish has already vowed to opt out of our direction under our current bishop and align under a Primacial Vicar of the Anglican communion if necessary to secure our values and teachings. If there is a split Sept. 30. We will pull “Episcopal” from our church signage and replace it with “Anglican”. This should give you a very clear view of where our values and our beliefs are. I love the Anglican church because we have this opportunity to do and exercise what is right and Godly. Father Andrew has said that he is responsible for our souls and this is what drives him to do what is right.

 

[Hellisreal]

Dear Nella,

You do realize the Anglicans are not immune from this disorder…

Ah, good question my friend. I will be honest with you as always. I am very distraught with it. If I was a parishioner at a church where the clergy was either gay or where gay unions were performed, I would definitely leave that church no doubt. It’s more than my disagreement with it all, it is un-Biblical and it is not what God has intended for us. I could not listen to a homily gien by an actively gay priest or bishop period. This is why I am very glad and proud to be a parishioner of the church where I am. My priest (Fr. Andrew Gross) does not condone active gay clergy and has flatly refused to design a liturgy for same sex unions and will not perform not a one of them. We have lost about a half dozen parishioners because of his stand against this, but this does not deter him from doing and preaching what is right. Our parish has already vowed to opt out of our direction under our current bishop and align under a Primacial Vicar of the Anglican communion if necessary to secure our values and teachings. If there is a split Sept. 30. We will pull “Episcopal” from our church signage and replace it with “Anglican”. This should give you a very clear view of where our values and our beliefs are. I love the Anglican church because we have this opportunity to do and exercise what is right and Godly. Father Andrew has said that he is responsible for our souls and this is what drives him to do what is right.

 

[Nella]

Dear Nella,

You do realize the Anglicans are not immune from this disorder…

Is anyone?

 

[sacredcello]

Is anyone?

Good point!

I can think of at least 3 Catholic parishes which have practicing homosexuals in key leadership positions. They believe that it is only a matter of time before the Church will change its course in regard to its teaching on homosexuality.

And, those are only the churches that I personally know about!

 

[rr1213]

Good point!

I can think of at least 3 Catholic parishes which have practicing homosexuals in key leadership positions. They believe that it is only a matter of time before the Church will change its course in regard to its teaching on homosexuality.

And, those are only the churches that I personally know about!

I’m not Catholic, but I’d say that an important difference is that the Catholic Church has not changed the biblical teaching that homosexual behavior is immoral and a serious sexual sin. In contrast, the Episcopal Church–as an institution–finds no fault in such behavior.

 

[sacredcello]

I’m not Catholic, but I’d say that an important difference is that the Catholic Church has not changed the biblical teaching that homosexual behavior is immoral and a serious sexual sin. In contrast, the Episcopal Church–as an institution–finds no fault in such behavior.

Yes, I agree. I am Catholic, and I do embrace the Church’s teaching on this subject. But, because I was raised Episcopalian, this took some effort on my part, to wrestle with the truth, so to speak.

Not to mention that so many of my friends are gay, in that I am a professional musician (and many of these gay friends work in the Catholic Church as cantors, etc.)

I agree with an earlier post, that Catholics are not immune to false doctrine, especially when we hear it murmured in private conversations with “Catholic” leaders.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

I was raised episcopalian, my grandfather was an episcopal minister and my mom still attends an episcopal church with a woman minister and a woman bishop.

I am just glad I left that denom a longggg time ago!!

I think it is very sad that the world is influencing what was once where the Word of God was taught. But no more–I have to say I do not consider the American episcopal church a New Testament church anymore because they are moving away from teaching God’s Word.

I just dont understand why or how they think homosexuality is ok. God is so clear on how he views this. I dont know how they get around it in the bible:shrug:

Im not saying to shun homosexuals but to counsel them like you would anyone who is in habitual sin. I guess the problem is the WORLD doesnt see it as sin, but instead tries to glorify the sin by saying we should all accept homosexuality as being fine.

 

[sacredcello]

I just dont understand why or how they think homosexuality is ok. God is so clear on how he views this. I dont know how they get around it in the bible:shrug:

Im not saying to shun homosexuals but to counsel them like you would anyone who is in habitual sin. I guess the problem is the WORLD doesnt see it as sin, but instead tries to glorify the sin by saying we should all accept homosexuality as being fine.

They argue that it is a matter of social justice. If they are inherently SSA (same-sex-attracted) and this is their nature, how is it that a loving God would deny them a “loving” relationship? I’ve even heard Luke ch. 4 quoted as evidence that God accepts homosexuality.

If you want to start a conversation about social justice, though, why not start with the REAL poor living in third world nations; not gays who may be denied equal status with married men and women (depending on the state).

However, the Catholic Church will never change the Word of God into something it isn’t. The Holy Father has the charism to teach Scripture in the Apostolic Tradition and he will never make an error. Matthew 16:18 (…and the gates of hell shall never prevail against it.)

40,000 different christian denominations (or non-denominations) will change with the prevailing winds …

 

[SteveLy]

"what is your view on the ordination of gay bishops and priest?"

The one’s who are ok with it probably wouldn’t be on this forum.

Peace.