GBLT people in the church (priest, ritual, homosexuality, churches)

[spiritually inclined]

How likely is it that an openly gay person in a relationship would find acceptance in an Episcopal church if (s)he wanted to be baptized and confirmed?

James

[lunamoth]

While it would vary from place to place, I would say the chances of being fully accepted are very good. In my diocese I think the chances of being fully accepted would be excellent, although some individual churches will vary in the warmth or chilliness you might experience because, well, people are people and not all are uniformly open to this.

There is a broad range of understanding and belief about homosexuality in the Episcopal Church, and I'm sure you have noticed that there is a lot of discussion about this going on right now. The Episcopal Church, as well as Anglican churches in a couple of other countries, has been very progressive in including GLBT adherants at every level of service in the Church...including the ordination of a gay Bishop (which opened the debate up a few years ago).

Also, if a person has been baptized there is no need to be baptized again to be part of the Episcopal Church.

added: unless you bring it up yourself, I'd say it is not likely that anyone else would either.

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by spiritually inclined

How likely is it that an openly gay person in a relationship would find acceptance in an Episcopal church if (s)he wanted to be baptized and confirmed?

Like she said, it varies from place to place. Depending on where you live, though, it ought to be fairly easy to find an Episcopal church that accepts gay people up to (but not including) the point of blessing a same-sex marriage.

[Terrywoodenpic]

Our last priest was openly Gay.
He did move to another parish when he "married" his partner.
Our Bishop would not accept a practising Gay priest.
The Bishop covering his new parish would.
There is at yet no hard and fast rule.

[Angelfire]

Originally Posted by Terrywoodenpic

Our last priest was openly Gay.
He did move to another parish when he "married" his partner.
Our Bishop would not accept a practising Gay priest.
The Bishop covering his new parish would.
There is at yet no hard and fast rule.

I have a hard time understanding Gays wanting to be in church ministry.The Christian

Faith after all is about gaining mastery over our appetites and lusts. Perhaps I'm just

old fashioned.




peace

[doppelgänger]

Originally Posted by Angelfire

I have a hard time understanding Gays wanting to be in church ministry.The Christian

Faith after all is about gaining mastery over our appetites and lusts. Perhaps I'm just

old fashioned.

Then why would heterosexuals want to be in ministry either?

[Angelfire]

Originally Posted by doppelgänger

Then why would heterosexuals want to be in ministry either?

I will only speak for myself. The day I made my confession of Faith was the start of a new life in Christ, Behold all things are new, the old has passed away.




peace

[spiritually inclined]

You didn't actually answer the question.

James

[sojourner]

Originally Posted by Angelfire

I have a hard time understanding Gays wanting to be in church ministry.The Christian

Faith after all is about gaining mastery over our appetites and lusts. Perhaps I'm just

old fashioned.




peace

That's a little like saying the Hokey-Pokey is "what it's all about."

The faith of the laity is the exact same type and degree of faith as the clergy. As Barbara Brown Taylor (an Episcopal priest) has said, (paraphrasing), one's call to ordained ministry is a step-down process -- not an exaltation.

If you're going to question the faith of the clerygy, then you must also question the faith of the laity in this regard. Maybe "gaining mastery over one's appetites" isn't really what it's all about. I rather suspect that, for the Anglican, faith is all about believing that grace conquers death, which comes about from sin.