ABOVE: GAY BISHOP "VICKY" GENE ROBINSON
ABOVE: The Rev. Michael Briggs, left, and the Rev. Ken Malcolm hug after Episcopalians overwhelmingly voted to allow religious weddings for same-sex couples, July 1 in Salt Lake City.
U.S. EPISCOPALIANS SUSPENDED FROM FELLOWSHIP IN ANGLICAN COMMUNION OVER "GAY MARRIAGE" STANCE
BY HEATHER CLARK
SEE: http://christiannews.net/2016/01/16/u-s-episcopalians-suspended-from-fellowship-in-anglican-communion-over-gay-marriage-stance/; republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
LONDON — The Anglican Communion voted on Thursday to place a temporary suspension on the fellowship of the U.S. Episcopal “church” within its global body over the apostate denomination’s support for same-sex “marriage.”
For the next three years, Episcopalians will be banned from making policy decisions in the 85-million member Anglican Communion as a task force will be formed to work to restore the relationship.
According to reports, the Global Anglican Future Conference had requested sanctions against the Episcopalian body during the week-long meeting led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, and some even threatened to walk out of the meeting unless something was done about the matter.
In 2003, Episcopalians appointed their first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, and last year, the group voted to allow weddings between those of the same gender in their houses of worship, as well as to eliminate the terms “husband and wife” from the denominational rules on marriage. The developments caused friction within the fellowship, which is historically descended from the missional Church of England.
“This sanction is the ecclesiastical equivalent of being placed in ‘time out,'” said Jeff Walton of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in a statement. “But the goal of ‘time out’ is to change behavior, and the Episcopal Church has clearly spoken that it will not deviate from its chosen trajectory.”
“The primates who have taken this step have cited three reasons for doing so: the lack of reconciliation between the Episcopal Church and their provinces, obedience to Scripture, and the admonitions of the Book of Common Prayer,” he explained. “For them it’s a question of faithfulness to Jesus Christ.”
Anglican leaders of what is known as “Primates 2016” also released a statement on the matter.
“Recent developments in the Episcopal Church with respect to a change in their Canon on marriage represent a fundamental departure from the faith and teaching held by the majority of our Provinces on the doctrine of marriage,” it reads in part. “All of us acknowledge that these developments have caused further deep pain throughout our Communion.”
The statement said that while unity is desired in the Communion, the Anglican Church cannot unite with those who hold to unbiblical doctrine.
“It is our unanimous desire to walk together,” leaders outlined. “However, given the seriousness of these matters, we formally acknowledge this distance by requiring that for a period of three years the Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.”
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Anglicans Discipline US Episcopal Church over Gay Marriage
Published on Jan 15, 2016
Archbishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion voted Thursday to suspend the entire U.S. Episcopal Church over its embrace of same-sex marriage, which they said has caused "deep pain" and "deeper mistrust" in the denomination.
The vote by archbishops meeting in Canterbury, England, essentially directs Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to relegate almost 2 million American Episcopalians to non-voting "observer" status within their own communion.
Image: Primates of the Anglican Church meet at Canterbury Cathedral in England
Guides at Canterbury Cathedral during the Anglican Church meeting this week in Canterbury, England. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
Under the terms of the resolution, American Episcopalians and leaders will be stripped of their votes at Anglican conferences and assemblies, won't be allowed to participate in decision-making "on issues of doctrine or polity" and can't officially represent the Anglican Communion on interfaith commissions.
The action isn't anywhere near as severe as expulsion or excommunication. But the Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the U.S. church, said it does cause "real pain" for American Episcopalians.
"For fellow disciples of Jesus in our church who are gay or lesbian, this will bring more pain," Curry said in a statement distributed through the church's Episcopal News Service.
"For many who have felt and been rejected by the church because of who they are, for many who have felt and been rejected by families and communities, our church opening itself in love was a sign of hope," Curry said. "And this will add pain on top of pain."
The U.S. branch of the church has been at odds with the parent communion ever since it elected the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003. Robinson couldn't immediately be reached for comment, but he said Thursday on Twitter that Curry "speaks for me."
The vote by archbishops meeting in Canterbury, England, essentially directs Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to relegate almost 2 million American Episcopalians to non-voting "observer" status within their own communion.
Image: Primates of the Anglican Church meet at Canterbury Cathedral in England
Guides at Canterbury Cathedral during the Anglican Church meeting this week in Canterbury, England. Eddie Keogh / Reuters
Under the terms of the resolution, American Episcopalians and leaders will be stripped of their votes at Anglican conferences and assemblies, won't be allowed to participate in decision-making "on issues of doctrine or polity" and can't officially represent the Anglican Communion on interfaith commissions.
The action isn't anywhere near as severe as expulsion or excommunication. But the Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop of the U.S. church, said it does cause "real pain" for American Episcopalians.
"For fellow disciples of Jesus in our church who are gay or lesbian, this will bring more pain," Curry said in a statement distributed through the church's Episcopal News Service.
"For many who have felt and been rejected by the church because of who they are, for many who have felt and been rejected by families and communities, our church opening itself in love was a sign of hope," Curry said. "And this will add pain on top of pain."
The U.S. branch of the church has been at odds with the parent communion ever since it elected the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003. Robinson couldn't immediately be reached for comment, but he said Thursday on Twitter that Curry "speaks for me."
