It has been pointed out to me that I have been a bad kitty and not careful in research. Besides the Episcopal Church there is another mainline denomination that supports the ordination of gays and lesbians. The United Church of Christ has been inclusive in its standard for ordination for many years. Thanks be to God for them.

I have been seeing tweets today from people roaring about God punishing sexual sin. Why is it that people always think God's prejudices are their own prejudices? And why is sexual sin more evil than any other kind of sin? As a Presbyterian I believe all are capable of ultimate depravity. So if we are all sinners, purrhaps we should be paying more attention to our own sins and less to the sins of others.

And again, thanks be to God for the UCC' following Jesus' example of radical hospitality. They have blazed the way for many to follow.

"The constitution and canons of our church as currently written do not preclude gay and lesbian persons from participating," in any part of the church, said the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, on the committee that drafted the statement. "These people have responded to God's call."

Those words were written after the Bishops of the Episcopal church in the US voted to allow the ordination of gays and lesbians as priests and to allow their consecration as Bishops.  That vote echoed one already taken by the priests and laity. Thanks be to God. Finally their is a denomination with the guts to act in the way Christ acted, instead of proof texting  the Bible.

Jesus had a preference toward the outcasts of society. Today's outcasts include our gay sisters and brothers. I think their are many cheers in heaven at this news.  Yes, I do know that there are Bible passages that seem to contradict my position. I also know that those passages are being picked out for enforcement in the same way churches used to support slavery. Both uses are contrary to the spirit of Jesus' teachings and life.

I pray that more denominations will follow the lead of the Episcopal church. Maybe even Presbyterians can find it in themselves to someday have more light.

What do you get when you put together a mixture of former Episcopalians, low church Charismatic Roman Catholics and a mish mosh of other creeds who are only united by their homophobia? Well of course you get the Anglican Church in North America.  Given the right wing nature of the participants, their rampant homophobia is not too surprising. What is surprising is the willingness of some of their Bishops to tell openly of their further retreat to the past.  Here is Bishop William Wantland's statement when asked if the denomination wanted to forbid female priests:

 "Of course. That's our mission," he said. "Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. The priest at the altar is an icon of Christ. What image is that if the person at the altar is a woman? It's a lesbian relationship."

Hey, what next, the Inquisition? This seems to disregard history. Women were the ones who financially supported Jesus' ministry. We have descriptions of women in the Gospels of women sitting at Jesus' feet; the place of a disciple. Early church history shows that women were both priests and bishops. But I guess the "good' Bishop's knowledge of history seems a little lacking.

I doubt that I'll change the Bishop's mind. But I can do one thing. Does anyone have this guy's address? I'd like to go pee on his rug!