Episcopalians approve ‘gay’ weddings in churches

Gays can now marry within the Episcopal Church.

The Episcopalian General Covention took a vote on the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage and came to consensus congregants who are homosexual can now marry within their church, and receive all the benefits and sacraments that go with that.

“We’re all included now,” said Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago, a lesbian whose partner is a fellow Episcopal priest, in the Associated Press. “For the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in our congregation now know under the eyes of God and in every single state in this blessed country, they are welcome to receive all the sacraments.

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The vote in Salt Lake City at the church’s convention passed the House of Deputies and shortly after, the House of Bishops. with a 129-26 voice, AP said.

Rev. Brian Baker of Sacramento, who chairs the church committee responsible for drafting the gay marriage changes, called the vote a good thing for Episcopalians.

“We have learned to not only care for, but care about one other,” he said, AP reported. “That mutual care was present in the conversations we had. Some people disagreed, some people disagreed deeply, but we prayed and we listened and we came up with compromises that we believe make room and leave no one behind.”

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Not all saw the action as in line with biblical principles, however.

“The fight has not ended, it’s starting,” said Rev. Jose Luis Mendoza-Barahona of Honduras, speaking in opposition to the church’s change in policy. “Those of us in the church who are loyal followers of Christ are going to remain firm in not recognizing what happened today.”

The vote specifically takes out any type of language in the church marriage laws that references gender. Instead of using the terms “husband” and “wife,” the new text will only cite “the couple,” AP said. The church also approved a prayer service for marriage that would be similarly gender-neutral.

The new rules, which take effect Nov. 29, let clergy decline to perform the unions.

The United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. also allow gay marriages; the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America lets congregations choose for themselves whether or not to allow the same-sex weddings.

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