Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles Elects Second Openly Gay Bishop

UPDATE 12/7/09: It should come as no surprise that that bishop of the Anglican Church is not responding to this well. But what is sickening is that he's quick to rebuke this development of equality, yet lagging behind on speaking out against Uganda's "kill gays" bill. Disgusting.

Original post 12/6/09

One of the goals of UTF's mission statement is to understand our opposition. A lot of the time that leads to reporting on religious groups opposing our civil rights. But I'm always happy to report on other religious groups who fall under the far opposite position.

The Episcopal Church is one of them.

Recently, they lifted their self-imposed ban on ordaining openly gay bishops after much deliberation, despite the fact that it has caused a major schism with its sister Anglican Church in Europe, who doesn't view LGBT people the same way. They will also soon be crafting a blessing specifically for married same-sex couples. They have left it up to their parishes to decide for themselves whether or not to marry gay couples. Recently in Massachusetts, the local Episcopal bishop gave permission for priests in the eastern part of the state to do just that.

Here in Los Angeles, the Episcopal Church has decided on another amazing act of equality. After meeting in Riverside, CA on Saturday, church leaders elected for the first time in the church's 114-year history two women to be bishops - Rev. Canon Diane Jardine Bruce, 53, the rector of a San Clemente church, and Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool, 55, for the Dioecese of Los Angeles.

What's even more historical about this vote is that Glasspool has openly been in a relationship with another woman for over 20 years. She is a the first gay bishop elected for the Episcopal Church since Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire in 2003.

Los Angeles Times reports:

Convention delegates said that Glasspool's sexual orientation was only one factor in their decision, which came on the seventh ballot for the position. They called her a gifted priest with extensive diocesan experience in her current role as canon -- or executive assistant -- to the bishops of the Diocese of Maryland.

"I don't think it's a referendum on electing a woman or a gay person," said the Very Rev. Mark Kowalewski, dean of St. John's Cathedral in downtown Los Angeles. "Those are secondary characteristics.

Rev. Glasspool has released the following statement:

Gracias con todo mi corazon. I am not unaware of the many complicated dynamics that have been part of this election -- and I want to acknowledge them. Any group of people who have been oppressed because of any one, isolated aspect of their persons yearns for justice and equal rights. My own heart has been stressed deeply today. To Martir, I honor you and pledge you my ongoing love and support. To my Latino and Hispanic brothers and sisters, I say we're all in this together. We are all working to bring forward the reign of God on earth. So thank you with all my heart.

It is such an honor and a privilege to be among you wonderful people of the Diocese of Los Angeles. I'm deeply and forever grateful for the trust you've shown in me, and I look forward with great excitement to serving together with you, and alongside +Jon and Diane+, in furthering the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ in the world -- in whose name we are all honored to serve.

It has also been an enriching experience to get to know five incredible human beings who have dedicated all of their considerable gifts and life skills to the life and love of the Lord. You all can probably guess that it takes a lot of effort, even courage, to put yourself out there for public examination, questioning, and then voting. It speaks well of the Diocese of Los Angeles that a variety of such well-qualified people stood and stand before you. I hope you will continue to pray for all of us, as we continue to respond to God's call wherever that takes us. May I add my profound thanks to Bishop Bruno and Julian Bull and to all the Search Committee who worked very hard for lo these many months to get us all to this day.

I'm very excited about the future of the whole Episcopal Church, and I see the Diocese of Los Angeles leading the way into that future. But just for this moment, in the coming months, to getting to know you all better, as together we build up the Body of Christ for the world.

The Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool
December 5, 2009

This is great not only for those outside the LGBT population who view us as an "ungodly" group that disrespects religion in all forms and thus view us a bit differently, but it's also good for the LGBT population itself, to see that we have a great, wonderful variety among us. It shows us that religion itself is not bad, that it can be accepting, loving and uplifting. Unfortunately, it can be the people who believe in religion and abuse the name of religion that can cause the problems that we suffer under.

Hopefully this will a be a great reminder to us and to the rest of the nation that the LGBT people can embrace religion and that religion can embrace the LGBT people.

Recommended: Karen Ocamb's story on Glasspool's election.

Photo credit: Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times

Bishop Gene Robinson Speaks in Maine in Support of Marriage Equality

Openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire spoke in Maine Thursday to support voters in voting NO on Question 1 which attempts to overthrow the state's new marriage equality law.



The report mentions that the Episcopal Church doesn't recognize marriage equality, but it does treat same-sex couples with respect. The church recently decided to begin crafting a prayer to bless same-sex unions.

I do find it odd that Bishop Robinson said there is no right or wrong way of voting on this measure. I think the marriage equality law clearly delineates the separation of church and state and that it is wrong to strip minorities of their rights.

He is a great man and has overcome a lot. Here's a clip of his speech:

CNN Interviews Episcopal Bishops About Church's Pro-Gay Measures

Last week, the Episcopal Church took a huge leap forward in accepting the LGBT population into its fold by approving a measure that will end a moratorium on ordaining gay and lesbian clergy, and in an amazing move, they have now allowed clergy to give blessings to same-sex couples.

CNN speaks to Episcopal Bishops James Curry of the Diocese of Connecticut and Bishop Andrew Doyle of Texas about the recent moves.

Episcopal Bishops Approve Measure to Begin Crafting Prayer to Bless Same-Sex Marriages

Another amazing step forward for the Episcopal Church. A day after voting to end the moratorium on ordaining gay and lesbians Tuesday, the bishops voted 104-30 at the Episcopal General Convention to “collect and develop theological resources and liturgies” for blessing same-sex relationships, which would be considered at the next national meeting in 2012. Though this is a step short of an actual rite, the development over the next three years could lead to an official rite which will be added to the Book of Prayer.

The measure will now go to the church’s House of Deputies, which represents the clergy and lay people, and is known to be more liberal than the bishops and expected to give approval at the convention later this week.

The measure states “where same-sex marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church."

This measure is seen as a compromise to the bishops who feel their congregation is not yet ready to make this official step. However, the majority approved because, according to the New York Times, "They felt compelled to act because of their pastoral responsibility to gay couples who were increasingly coming forward to ask the church to bless their unions. Many also said they saw it as a simple matter of granting equal rights to gay men and lesbians."

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, has added pressure to the already mounting tension within the Communion that strives to keep branches from breaking away. It remains to be seen how these current LGBT-inclusive decisions will affect the church, but many conservatives feel this will drive a permanent schism between the Episcopal Church and the rest of the Anglican Communion.

“For many, this is the final straw with members of the wider Anglican Communion,” said Bishop William Love of Albany, N.Y. “It’s breaking my heart to see the church destroy itself in the manner in which we seem to be doing.”

Yet the votes show that this is a minority position.

“We certainly feel a deep need to be able to proclaim the love of God in the midst of a changing reality,” said Suffragan Bishop James Curry of the Diocese of Connecticut, one of six states that are legalizing same-gender marriage.

The Rev. Raisin Horn, the priest of Trinity Episcopal Church in Iowa City, told the New York Times, “If a same-sex couple comes to me and they want a marriage rite, they would go through the same premarital counseling, and have to show the same quality of relationship that I would want to see in any couple. I will not have to say to them, all the right things are in place except for your sexuality.”

Episcopal Church Passes Resolution to Ordain Gay Bishops, Next Vote on Blessing Same-Sex Couples

In the words of the Los Angeles Times, the Episcopal Church cast "aside warnings about further alienating conservatives within its ranks" and voted Tuesday to end a three year moratorium on ordaining gay and lesbian bishops. Furthermore, this now allows them to further weigh into a measure of sanctioning blessings on same-sex couples. Voting on this measure is expected today.

The measure to consecrate gay bishops won the support of more than two-thirds of the denomination's two legislative houses - the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies, composed of clergy and laity.

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the 77-million member Anglican Communion and which has a long history of striving to keep from splintering, has already faced conservative branches breaking off. Now with the vote, a backlash is expected.

"Clearly the activists have done a good job promoting their agenda," said the Rt. Rev. Martyn Minns to the Los Angeles Times, a founding bishop of the newly formed Anglican Church in North America, which hopes to gain recognition from the Anglican Communion as a rival province to the Episcopal Church.

"The generosity shown by the rest of the communion has been astonishing and has been thrown back in their face," Minns said. "There will have to be a renegotiation of how the Episcopal Church fits into the family."

Openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the only gay bishop consecrated by the Episcopal Church, holds a different view.

"I'm simply delighted at the possibility that another diocese will recognize the gifts of a gay or lesbian clergy person," he said. "I long for the day when someone who shares my experience as an openly gay bishop joins me in the House of Bishops. It has been lonely."

The passed measure states "God has called" gays and lesbians in partnered relationships to "any ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church," adding that the call "is a mystery which the church attempts to discern for all people."

Rev. Irene Moore has a very interesting piece on the deep history behind the vote at Bilerico Project, titled "Let the Episcopal Church say Amen."