From National Post-
The Episcopal Church USA at its recent general convention set a new standard for Christian secularism. At the meeting they created a liturgical rite for the blessing of same-sex couples — not a surprising move given how many individual dioceses have been performing the ceremony for years. But another issue took the idea of inclusiveness to an entirely new level. At the meeting in Indianapolis it was decided that “gender equality” extended to “transgender equality,” and in particular with regards to the clergy.
As reported by Religion Dispatches, the church amended its canon law to read:
“No one shall be denied rights, status, or access to an equal place in the life, worship, and governance of this Church because of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disabilities, or age…”
In plain language, there is now no impediment to transgender people becoming ordained ministers. There was no official impediment before but clearly the church felt it had to make a statement to tell the world where its heart resides.
Ephraim Radner, an Episcopal priest and a professor of historical theology at Wycliffe College, an Anglican theological school in Toronto, thinks the message is not one to celebrate but to mourn.
“This is crazy. They are getting their priorities wrong and it’s killing the church.”
More here-
http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/07/23/the-episcopal-church-takes-inclusiveness-into-the-secular-stratosphere/
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