Male priests marry in Anglican church's first gay 'wedding'

Gas on a roaring fire! Red flag in front of a bull!

In the Anglican system where local bishops have tremendous individual freedom the couple and the priest who performed the rite will likely be censured but this will still deepen the split between the Anglo-European bodies and the African/Asian Churches which will not tolerate such actions. There are hospitals in Africa which historically have been supported from England and the US which are refusing to accept their funds because they would understand that as accepting their decisions which the Africans see as heresy. Tough decisions all around.

In similar news:

Prospect of gay Lutheran bishop divides Germans

Germany could elect its first openly gay Lutheran bishop next month, a move conservatives say would alienate many Christians and open divisions in the Church.

The July 12 election brings to Germany the question of gay clergy and same-sex unions which has caused rifts in several countries and faiths, including the Anglican community.

Horst Gorski, a senior cleric from Hamburg, is standing for the post of bishop of Schleswig in northern Germany against Gerhard Ulrich, a senior cleric from the Schleswig area. The incumbent bishop is retiring in September.

Gorski is a widely respected theologian and he helped set up a centre for gay and lesbian Lutheran pastors.

His open homosexuality angers some Lutheran conservatives who argue his election as bishop would leave many Christians with no spiritual home.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080617/lf_nm_life/germany_lutheran_gay_dc

"Celtkin wrote:

In similar news:

Prospect of gay Lutheran bishop divides Germans

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080617/lf_nm_life/germany_lutheran_gay_dc

There is a line in the yahoo article:

Last year the largest U.S. Lutheran body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), said it would allow homosexual clergy in sexual relationships to serve as pastors.

that is incorrect.

We have allowed pastors whose self understanding that they are gay for years. What wasn't allowed and still is not allowed is to be ordained and living in a homosexual relationship or "marriage". That may change but it is not now the case. What is not clear from the article is whether or not the "gay" candidate is in a relationship or whther he is celibate. That will make a huge difference throughout the Lutheran sphere.

"Ohiophinphan wrote:

There is a line in the yahoo article:

that is incorrect.

We have allowed pastors whose self understanding that they are gay for years. What wasn't allowed and still is not allowed is to be ordained and living in a homosexual relationship or "marriage". That may change but it is not now the case. What is not clear from the article is whether or not the "gay" candidate is in a relationship or whther he is celibate. That will make a huge difference throughout the Lutheran sphere.

Can you be ordained if you are living in a heterosexual relationship?

"Stitches wrote:

Can you be ordained if you are living in a heterosexual relationship?

and not married? No.

We have something called "Visions and expectations for rostered persons". (We use rostered instead of ordained here because we do have some professional church workers who are not ordained and they have the same standards.) While it incudes a lot of stuff, page 13, as we call it, says in simplest language, Physical intimacy is only permissable if you are married and married is only between a man and a woman. (paraphrase)

There have been repeated calls for a change in that language but each time the calls have been soundly defeated. Will that continue.....?????

Thanks for the explanation, Pastor Keith. I appreciate the insight.