Outrage as US Episcopal Church Nominates Lesbian for Bishop
The Episcopal Church in the US has caused further controversy in the ongoing Anglican debate over homosexuality within the Church, after the Diocese of Chicago announced an openly lesbian priest as one of the candidates for its bishop.
by Daniel Blake
Posted: Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 9:13 (BST)
The Episcopal Church in the US has caused further controversy in the ongoing Anglican debate over homosexuality within the Church, after the Diocese of Chicago announced an openly lesbian priest as one of the candidates for its bishop.
Conservative Anglicans were left outraged after the openly gay Rev Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Cathedral in Cleveland, was included among five nominees for the vote to take place on 10 November.
The nomination has sparked fears that she could become the second bishop in the Episcopal Church who lives with a same-sex partner.
That notion may be enough to wedge an insurmountable barrier between the warring factions of the worldwide Anglican Communion, who are still fiercely debating the Scriptural basis for the 2003 consecration of New Hampshire Bishop V Gene Robinson, who has a male partner.
While many Anglican bishops have yet to confirm their attendance at next year’s landmark ten-yearly Lambeth Conference, the latest developments in Chicago could be enough to push the Communion to the brink of schism.
Rev Lind’s inclusion as a candidate for bishop will further intensify the focus on September’s meeting of US Episcopal Church bishops, who are due to meet and discuss whether to agree to demands from the Anglican Communion to unequivocally pledge not to consecrate any further openly gay bishops.
That meeting, set for 30 September, could prove a pivotal point in the history of the Anglican Communion. If the US bishops refuse to bow to demands from the Communion, the Church could potentially lose its full membership status within the 77 million-member Communion.
If, on the other hand, the Church does reject the demands and Canterbury refuses to retract the Church’s membership, then African and Asian Church members, who have been the most stringent opponents of the US developments, may decide to break away from the Communion.
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The comments below are readers' personal opinions and are in no way intended to reflect the editorial opinion of Christian Today.
Added: Wednesday, September 5, 2007, 3:25 (BST)
The Episcopal Church has been ordaining gay and lesbian priests for 30 years. This isn't something new, unexpected, untested, or unusual. Gay people are members of the Episcopal church, in fact members of all churches. We don't drop from outer space and bang on the doors screaming, "let us into heterosexual only places!"
We are the baptised, confirmed and faithful children of God who grew up in the church. We are open to the call of God including ordination, and including nomination as Bishops. During the 30 years that women and gays have been ordained nothing horrible has happened as a result of our presence, indeed many great people have served. What is the real reason for the escalation of fear, hatred, condemnation, scape goating and demonizing of Episcopal ordinations of us? Something very rotten, sinister and political crouches behind this smoke screen.
Jim Costich, Rochester, NY U.S.A.
Added: Tuesday, September 4, 2007, 0:16 (BST)
Its all about fear! All of these crazies are losing themselves in the foolishness of thinking they know what God wants of the Church! If they would open their Bible to more parts other than those very few which even mention anything slightly resembling same sex interactions, they might see passages about love, helping the poor, those who havent heard about a loving God and " do justice, love mercy and walk HUMBLY with God ." Perhaps the Episcopal Bishops havent read that in a while.
Richard Angelo, Albany, New York
Added: Saturday, September 1, 2007, 22:49 (BST)
From your article: "The nomination has sparked fears that she could become the second bishop in the Episcopal Church who lives with a same-sex partner." Herein lies the truth behind the fracas against gay people serving as ordained ministers: FEAR. Some church leaders in order to advance their popularity have instilled alarm, terror and dread in the minds of their congregations that reach from Africa and even into the United States. It is similar to the way in which the Chief Priests and the Pharisees manipulated the crowds and orchestrated the execution of Jesus Christ. The Bishops of Nigeria and Kenya should turn to that part of Scripture -- to the New Testament Gospels -- where they will see similarities between methods that the religious structure used then to crucify Jesus, and what these high-ranking church officials are doing today to destroy good and faithful people who are following Jesus to the best of their ability. The tactics that Archbishops Peter Akinola of Nigeria and Benjamin Nzimbi are using against Bishop Gene Robinson, Dean Tracey Lind and other gay Anglican priests are indications that neither of the aforementioned African bishops is fit to hold episcopal office in the church.
Carroll L., Metairie, LA
Added: Saturday, September 1, 2007, 21:27 (BST)
Go for it, Tracey Lind. Do not let the naysayers get to you. You are the beloved of God and have every right to be considered for every office in the church. I am delighted to learn that you are in a committed relationship. The people who keep taunting you with their snide, hurtful remarks and their questionable interpretation of Scripture should, perhaps, consider changing their partners.
Carroll C., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 14:03 (BST)
Well, Cynthia of Chicago, I think in humility the Diocese of Chicago and and its voting members should heed the opinions of their brothers and sisters in Christ whatever they path tehy choose. The consents/ratification process should not become a political tool : let South Carolina, New Hampshire and Chicago select their own Bishops who, if without scandal can subscribe the vows to obey the doctrine, discipline and order of our denomination, should be approved. So be it. The time to listen to others is in_forming your decision.
Jess, Orange, Virginia
Added: Thursday, August 30, 2007, 0:08 (BST)
I have been a member of Trinity Cathedral for five years now. In that time, I have seen the our dean, Rev. Lind, do amazing things with our congregation. The size of the Cathedral congregation has grown exponentially under her leadership. She has helped to open our hearts and our minds by promoting "radical hospitality" and teaching us that Christ did not exclude anyone. If the people of the Diocese of Chicago choose her to their Bishop, they will truly be blessed with a very capable person leader who will teach her flock to see Christ in everyone and respect the dignity of every human being.
Steve, Cleveland, Ohio
Added: Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 20:00 (BST)
An incredible angle that is constantly ignored in this story is that more than 250 Episcopal congregations in the U.S. have left the U.S. denomination and put themselves under African dioceses or else just gone independent. One of the biggest is Truro in Virginia.
Another, All-Saints Episcopal in Massachusetts, has walked away from a multi-million-dollar complex and a $1 million endowment, bought a closed Catholic Church down the street and taken the name All-Saints Anglican.
This is a major story that somehow gets ignored -- and which the U.S. Episcopal church does not want publicized ... particularly since the churches leaving are some of the biggest congregations in the American denomination. Many of the oldest ones are holding onto their property since they pre-date the establishment of the U.S. church.
Others are being protected by state laws, which is another fascinating story that is being ignored ... but putting fear into the hearts of the Methodist, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian and Disciples of Christ hierarchy -- congregations in revolt, refusing to go along with liberal leadership, and fighting to keep their buildings.
Keith Wilkerson, US
Added: Wednesday, August 29, 2007, 14:19 (BST)
I am one of the lay delegates who will elect a new Bishop of Chicago at our diocesan convention in November. Although this is being framed as an intance of the Episcopal Church causing outrage in the Anglican Communion, I would like to point out that these five candidates for bishop were chosen by a search committee of laypeople and clergy within the Diocese of Chicago and that the bishop will be elected by clergy and laypeople within the Diocese of Chicago. The wider Episcopal Church doesn't get to weigh in until it is asked to assent to our choice after the election.
Cynthia, Chicago, USA
