BBC News is reporting that the U.S. Episcopal Church, meeting in their convention in Ohio, has just rejected calls from the worldwide Anglican Church to stop appointing gay bishops.
The news item is short, but apparently the U.S. Episcopal Church has, in fact, rejected "compromise" language in which the church was to apologize for the pain it has caused the worldwide Anglican community. That was the language under consideration by the convention.
This development threatens to split the Anglican community. More conservative churches, particularly in Africa, are not at all happy with the U.S. moves. The U.S. church also made history by appointing a female leader, the first Anglican denomination to do so.
The Episcopal Church is making major strides, right now, in expanding religious opportunities and recognition for homosexuals, same-sex couples, and women. These changes will undoubtedly start to break down civil rights barriers in the U.S. and elsewhere. Other Christian denominations, such as the United Church of Christ, already fully accept and recognize same-sex couples.
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