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Compiled By GayToday
"On Wednesday, July 5th, I was shocked to learn that the Episcopal Church, of which I'm member and in which I was married, does not have an official national church policy allowing ministers to officiate at same sex unions or ordain openly gay people. “Allowing each Diocese to determine whether or not to ordain gays and lesbians or bless same gender couples on a local level, rather then making a church wide decision, I feel is tantamount to accepting and supporting discrimination. “Based on this indecision of the Episcopal Church, to fully accept all persons into the Christian faith, I must in good conscience cancel my performance at the Episcopal Church General convention.” In response, the Rev Mel White, a co-founder of Soulforce, observed:
"The debate on the homosexuality issue has become a primary source of suffering for millions of lesbian and gay people. The fact that bishops, priests and laity are at this General Convention to debate once again whether gay and lesbian persons are acceptable is obscene!" A total of 73 people, both gay and straight, from the Episcopal church and from other religious backgrounds, were arrested July 4, in an act of non-violent civil disobedience at the Colorado Convention Center at the Episcopal Church (USA) Conference, protesting exclusionary policies. Similar Soulforce protests have also been held at the United Methodist General Conference in May and at both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Presbyterian General Assembly in June. In November, a Soulforce delegation plans to conduct another civil disobedience event at the meeting of the National Council of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., November 13-16. |
Judy Collins 