From USA Today- (Who apparently doesn't know an adjective from a noun)
So will this year's 10-day meeting of 200 Episcopal bishops and 850 clergy and lay deputies be calmer? Maybe not.
Episcopal Church spokeswoman Anne Rudig says they'll turn their attention to global development goals, one of Jefferts Schori's top priorities.
The convention begins with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, leading a forum on poverty, and "we want to add new initiatives on domestic poverty," Rudig says. "Yes, human sexuality is certainly going to be part of our conversation. But it's just that — a part."
With a legislature second in size only to India's, she says, "we'll also talk about polity, about how we govern ourselves. … We're messy and noisy and transparent, and out of it comes the remarkable work we do."
Some conservatives who stayed with the Episcopal Church even though they disagreed on gay bishops and blessing same-sex marriage are concerned that sexuality issues interfere with the church's missions and development in Third World countries. Since 2003, some African and South American Anglican archbishops have refused to take communion with Episcopal Church leaders or partner with the church on projects.
"There is a whole swath of the Episcopal Church struggling to make their way forward to do missions and the work of the church," says Kendall Harmon, canon theologian for the Diocese of South Carolina.
He opposes gay bishops and gay blessings, but Harmon calls the current moratoriums a "fig leaf" that should be lifted so the church can be "honest" about its theological direction.
Still, both efforts may stall, says supporter Jim Naughton, canon for communications for the Diocese of Washington, D.C.
More here-
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-07-07-episcopal_N.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment