Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Anglican bishops in Scotland say gays not barred from priesthood

More grist for the mill...

London (ENI). Leaders of the Scottish Episcopal Church have added fuel to a controversy dividing their Anglican Communion worldwide by declaring for the first time that in their church practising homosexuals are not barred from becoming priests. They also criticised the leaders of the 78-million communion for seeking to isolate Anglican churches in North America following the consecration of an openly gay bishop in the United States and the introduction of a blessing for same-sex couples in a part of Canada.

I'm guessing that new alliances will form and an alternate Anglican Communion will emerge, with the North American, South African, and Scottish churches playing a prominent role.

But that's just a guess.

However, I wonder, if in the event of a split within the ELCA and/or ELCIC a broader Lutheran/Anglican partnership will form. Not that I'm anxious to be part of such an arrangement, but given our latest agreements and shared ministries, it seems very likely that these relationships could easily grow into a more organic union.

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