Comments on: Episcopalians house homeless gay youth

By: Trovore

Trovore — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:51:42 +0000

Kumbaya my lord, Kumbaya.

By: AdrianT

AdrianT — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:30:52 +0000

Oh Timothy…but are you saying that these good people would only know to reach out to homeless youths because the Bible teaches them to? I usually suspect, rather than respect someone who does something because God tells them to (would you necessarily want to catch the same flight as such a person?). We have to be thankful that the Episcopalians happened to have read the Bible in a particular way, and that they did good in spite of the many texts that could have easily sent them in Pat Robertson’s direction instead.

Until there is an overhaul – a new reformation – of the holy texts, that temptation to lurch to fundamentalism will always exist. What ARE we doing venerating texts that call for genocide and intolerance in books such as Numbers, Deuteronomy etc? Cut them out, for goodness’ sake!

I would gladly take inspiration from Luke 10:25-37, in which Jesus is reported to teach his followers that goodness transcends social groups…. At present it doesn’t say much for Christian faith when such a good deed by Christians towards gay people is so unusual it is seen as news.

That said, I don’t want to pour cold water on an initiative motivated by genuine compassion and Christian charity; more power to them, and I hope they are an inspiration to many others.

By: padremambo

padremambo — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:57:57 +0000

The Episcopal Church has been generally (not universally) supportive of gay and lesbians. But I admit, it’s not purely because of charity: gay and lesbian people are active members of the church. They fund mission, serve on vestries and help bishops. And they are open. The REASON is because it is a democratic church, by and large. A gay person who participates in the community with their time and money will find themselves supported – like any other not-for-profit.

Historically, the Episcopal church decided it was much better to have open priests than closeted ones. It also helps that having women priests breaks down the men’s club that protects its own.

By: Where the Real Work Is « The Divine Latitude

Where the Real Work Is « The Divine Latitude — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 12:49:25 +0000

[...] 9, 2009 · Leave a Comment It’s one thing to elect a bishop. It’s another to house the homeless. Good for the Diocese of Long [...]

By: Burr

Burr — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:55:14 +0000

While impressive, you kind of have to expect this thing from Episcopalians (not to take them for granted, I have the utmost respect and appreciation for them!). It’s not a trend until some of the other churches start picking up on it.

By: toujoursdan

toujoursdan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:13:56 +0000

It helps that Bishop Provenzano’s daughter is a lesbian in a long term relationship. He has also told gay clergy in this diocese that they need to get married/civil unioned so that their relationships are taken as seriously as straight clergy.

By: Alan

Alan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:07:35 +0000

While I’m not fond of the anti-Christian hostility on this site, I think this “trend” may be rather slow-moving.

Christianity has gone from being a persecuted sect to becoming a sign of respectability. And being “respectable” usually means behaving in a socially conservative fashion.

So I fear that it is likely that, with the exception of the more liberal churches, Christianity in general will be slower than the rest of society to accept gays.

By: Truth Wins Out - Another Reason For Conservative Anglicans To Hate The U.S. Episcopal Church

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:24:40 +0000

[...] they’re not allowed to discriminate against gay people. Timothy Kincaid over at Box Turtle Bulletin thumps his pulpit a good one on this odd difference in approach to Christian social justice… [...]

By: Richard W. Fitch

Richard W. Fitch — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:09:38 +0000

I have an invested bias on this, but I think we will see more cases where EC-USA steps in to support LGBT causes in the future. The consecration of Gene Robinson and the election of Mary Glasspool are just the beginning.