http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ecusa/ en-us Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:52:50 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049150/posts A leading Anglican bishop has condemned conservatives as "demonic" for using his church as a punch bag. The Bishop of Washington, the Right Rev John Chane, a leading liberal in the Episcopal Church in the United States, accused conservatives of leading the church in a "dangerous" direction. *** "I think it's really very, very dangerous and I think it's demonic ... the Episcopal Church has been demonised. It has been a punching bag and I'm sick of being a punching bag as a Bishop and I'm sick of my church, my province being a punching bag. Times Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049150/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:52:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047600/posts James Tramel went from convicted murderer to priest while in prison, a transformation that the Episcopal Church used to successfully lobby for his parole and celebrate him before politicians and the press. But the church is now grappling with the sexual abuse of a parishioner under his care. Tramel has been suspended for sexual misconduct, temporarily stripped of his priestly authority and left searching for a new job. The San Francisco-based Episcopal Diocese of California now faces questions of whether, in its haste to proclaim Tramel's story, it redeemed and promoted him too quickly. Convicted of second-degree murder in a... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047600/posts#comment Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:57:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044865/posts Openly gay US bishop Gene Robinson was forced to halt a sermon at a west London church after being heckled. As Bishop Robinson began his sermon a member of the congregation repeatedly called him a "heretic" and said "repent, repent, repent". He began his sermon by saying how sad it was that the Anglican Communion was tearing itself apart. But he was stopped when the man in the congregation shouted that the schism was the bishop's fault. The man's protest was followed by slow hand-clapping by members of the congregation, and Bishop Robinson halted his sermon while a hymn was... BBC News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044865/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:49:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042827/posts The Episcopal Church has been at the forefront of baptizing active homosexual lifestyle as God-blessed. Since 1960, that denomination has decreased in membership by 48%. The United Methodist Church has been roiled by those adamant on establishing homosexual lifestyles as Christian legitimate. In the fight for one side or another that denomination has decreased in membership by 25%. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has likewise been embroiled in the tussle. That denomination has decreased in membership by 44%. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has also been riddled with in-house fighting over homosexual lifestyles as anti-God or pro-God. That denomination's membership... Magic City Morning Star http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042827/posts#comment Wed, 9 Jul 2008 11:32:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041039/posts Almost exactly five years after he was elected as the Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson remains the most controversial Christian in the world. His consecration as the first openly gay, partnered Anglican bishop launched a global conversation about sexuality in Christianity and divided the Anglican Communion, the largest Protestant body in the world with 77 million members. Yet what he is doing now may be more radical: Robinson is traveling the country and the world to talk more openly and more publicly than ever about his faith. "The principal identity that I have is as a follower of... San Francisco Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2041039/posts#comment Sat, 5 Jul 2008 11:39:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2038487/posts A dying newspaper industry views a Christian denomination that's growing, and breaking away from its colonial masters, and disapproves. The NY Times is in critical condition and may soon be on life support, but as part of it's death struggle it has time to view an anti-colonial development with disdain. JERUSALEM — Anglican conservatives, frustrated by the continuing stalemate over homosexuality in the Anglican Communion, declared Sunday that they would defy historic lines of authority and create a new power bloc within the communion led by a council predominantly of African archbishops. The announcement came at the close of an... The Virginian/NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2038487/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:48:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2036537/posts For a century the Lambeth Conference has been one of the events keeping intact this largest Protestant church grouping in the world. Now, for the first time, and just when the Anglican Communion is most at risk of disintegration, almost a third of the bishops invited to attend have decided to boycott the meeting. It is a blow to the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams who wants to use the conference to heal the rift over sexuality which has driven the Communion to the brink of a permanent split. The 250 bishops who have said they will stay away from... BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2036537/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:10:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033787/posts A month before the Lambeth Conference, the leaders of the "conservative", or traditionally Christian wing of the Anglican Church have declared that the Worldwide Anglican Communion no longer exists. The declaration comes in a 94-page book, titled "The Way, the Truth and the Life," from the church leaders meeting at the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jordan. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reports that in the book, Archbishop Peter Akinola, the Primate of Nigeria, states, "There is no longer any hope, therefore, for a unified Communion". The book was prepared by GAFCON Theological Resource Team and provides the theological and... Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033787/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:45:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033092/posts Hardline Church leaders have formally declared the end of the worldwide Anglican Communion, saying they can no longer be associated with liberals who tolerate homosexual clergy. The traditionalists dealt a serious blow to Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, by claiming that he can no longer hold the Church together. They warned that the Church was gripped by its most serious crisis since the Reformation. It could only be saved by the repentance of the Americans who triggered the row by ordaining a homosexual bishop, the Rt Rev Gene Robinson, five years ago. The formal pronouncement of the schism... Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033092/posts#comment Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:53:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032464/posts BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany could elect its first openly gay Lutheran bishop next month, a move conservatives say would alienate many Christians and open divisions in the Church. The July 12 election brings to Germany the question of gay clergy and same-sex unions which has caused rifts in several countries and faiths, including the Anglican community. Horst Gorski, a senior cleric from Hamburg, is standing for the post of bishop of Schleswig in northern Germany against Gerhard Ulrich, a senior cleric from the Schleswig area. The incumbent bishop is retiring in September. Gorski is a widely respected theologian and he... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032464/posts#comment Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:45:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031526/posts FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: For More Information, Contact: June 13, 2008 Jennifer Harris, Communications Officer, PIO#234-07/jlh 703.838.5078 or jennifer.harris@alexandriava.gov Alexandria Student Recognized for Support of Human Rights The Alexandria Human Rights Commission is pleased to announce that Debra Luecretia Mason, president of T.C. Williams High School Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), is the winner of the Commission’s seventh annual 2008 Student Human Rights Awards for her leadership role and promotion of equality for all regardless of sexuality. The Commission established the Human Rights Awards seven years ago to recognize students who have contributed significantly toward improving basic human rights and fairness for... City of Alexandria, VA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2031526/posts#comment Sun, 15 Jun 2008 20:30:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028219/posts CONCORD – V. Gene Robinson, New Hampshire's Episcopal bishop, entered into a civil union yesterday with his partner of 20 years, Mark Andrew, according to WMUR-TV. The ceremony, held at St. Paul Church, coincided with the fifth anniversary of Robinson's election as the nation's first openly gay Episcopal bishop. The state Legislature passed a law last year allowing gay couples to enter civil unions; the law took effect Jan. 1. In an interview last month on NBC's "The Today Show," Robinson said the decision to enter into a civil union came after he received death threats about his decision to... Manchester Union Leader http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028219/posts#comment Mon, 9 Jun 2008 10:49:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028136/posts BOSTON (Reuters) - The openly gay U.S. Episcopal bishop at the center of the Anglican church's global battle over homosexuality, has entered into a civil union with his longtime partner at a private ceremony. About 120 guests gathered at St. Paul's Church in New Hampshire for Saturday's ceremony for Bishop Gene Robinson and his partner of more than 19 years, Mark Andrew. The event was kept private out of respect for next month's worldwide Anglican conference, Robinson's spokesman, Mike Barwell, said on Sunday. Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028136/posts#comment Mon, 9 Jun 2008 02:03:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028132/posts Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson was united in a civil union ceremony with longtime partner Mark Andrew yesterday afternoon at St. Paul's Church in Concord. Attorney Ronna Wise, a justice of the peace, performed the private ceremony before about 120 friends and family. The day marked the five-year anniversary of the New Hampshire election that, once ratified, made Robinson the first openly gay bishop in the Anglican church. Robinson had made public his intent to get a civil union but had purposely kept the date and the details quiet. He did so, said spokesman Mike Barwell, out of respect for next... Concord Monitor http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028132/posts#comment Mon, 9 Jun 2008 01:56:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027826/posts Gene Robinson, New Hampshire's Episcopal bishop, entered into a civil union yesterday with his partner of 20 years, Mark Andrew, according to WMUR-TV. The ceremony, held at St. Paul Church, coincided with the fifth anniversary of Robinson's election as the nation's first openly gay Episcopal bishop. The state Legislature passed a law last year allowing gay couples to enter civil unions; the law took effect Jan. 1. In an interview last month on NBC's "The Today Show," Robinson said the decision to enter into a civil union came after he received death threats about his decision to attend the Lambeth... Manchester Union Leader http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027826/posts#comment Sun, 8 Jun 2008 09:41:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2025613/posts Police -- Stonington Pastor Provided Alcohol For Minors http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=bd09de68-90d0-408b-aa22-6d3f42ec354e http://tinyurl.com/6jdj56 Priest arrested during party after 2 girls hospitalized for intoxication Published on 6/3/2008 By Joe Wojtas Stonington - Police arrested the Rev. Mark Robinson of Calvary Episcopal Church Monday and charged him with hosting a graduation party at his Barnes Road home Sunday night that resulted in two 17-year-old girls being taken by ambulance to The Westerly Hospital for treatment for intoxication. The 50-year-old Robinson, who has led the borough church since 1993, was charged with delivery of alcohol to minors, second-degree reckless endangerment and permitting minors to possess alcohol.... The Day http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2025613/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 01:38:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023833/posts ... St. Christopher's is now in the midst of its own realignment following a church split earlier this month. Gray has resigned, along with several members of its vestry. The parish has been returned to "mission status." Gray has been suspended from the priesthood. Gray, "a lifelong Episcopalian of 52 years," considers St. Christopher's a "microcosm" of what's occurring across the United States in the Episcopal Church. ... As for Gray, he plans to remain in Spartanburg. Gray said more than 70 people from St. Christopher's attended a worship service May 11 at a former parishioner's home. More than 100... Spartanburg Herald-Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023833/posts#comment Sat, 31 May 2008 02:13:12 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023830/posts n the end, former members of Trinity Church in Bristol decided it wasn't worth the fight. The parishioners have settled their legal dispute with the Episcopal Diocese by agreeing to relinquish their historic church home. In return, both the diocese and the national Episcopal Church will withdraw their lawsuit against Trinity's priest and its leaders. ... Helmandollar said he and about 120 parishioners will worship this Sunday for the first time at their new home — the auditorium of the Greene-Hills Elementary School — under a new name, Holy Trinity Anglican Church. Hartford Courant http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023830/posts#comment Sat, 31 May 2008 01:58:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023798/posts The second of the three-phase trial to determine ownership of church properties now occupied by defectors from the Episcopal Church got underway in Fairfax yesterday, this phase centered on the constitutionality of an 1867 Virginia law. At issue is who will eventually own and occupy the properties such as the campus which is home to the historic Falls Church. ... Judge Bellows had ruled in April that the 1867 law was appropriate to apply in this dispute. That law, written in the wake of many divided congregations split over the Civil War, says that the property goes with defecting congregations.... Falls Church News-Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023798/posts#comment Sat, 31 May 2008 00:42:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2021151/posts For those of you that do not know me, my name is Paul Geraci. I am a member of Hope Episcopal Church, the succesor church to St Michael's and Incarnation Episcopal Churches. I began attending St Michael’s Episcopal Church in February 2005. A bit of background is in order. I am a cradle Episcopalian, baptized and confirmed at Trinity Episcopal Church in Houston, who in 1970, at the age of 15 left the Episcopal Church and spent the following 35 years seeking answers. At times during this journey my professed beliefs have varied from atheist to agnostic to nominal Roman... Vanity http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2021151/posts#comment Sun, 25 May 2008 20:25:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2019994/posts Marriage for All at All Saints Church Press Release sent from All Saints Church, Pasadena this afternoon: All Saints Church, Pasadena rector, J. Edwin Bacon, Jr., announced today that the church will treat equally all couples presenting themselves for the rite of marriage. The announcement followed a special meeting of the All Saints Church Vestry, which unanimously adopted a “Resolution on Marriage Equality” [below] in response to the May 15, 2008 ruling of the California Supreme Court. “Today’s decision is consistent with All Saints Church, Pasadena’s identity as a peace and justice church,” said Bacon, following the historic vote. “It... An Inch At A Time http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2019994/posts#comment Fri, 23 May 2008 00:39:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018571/posts The Anglican Church is the perfect vehicle for creating a new “gay” Christianity by virtue of the fact that it is the only church that accepts the logical contradiction of asserting both the sanctity of human life and the existence of a right to abortion. Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson, whose ordination to the episcopate has precipitated the ongoing schism between traditionally Christian Anglicans and its ultra-liberal, secularized branches, is in London to talk about his vision for the homosexual future of the Anglican Church. He was visiting and promoting his cause in preparation for the upcoming Lambeth Conference in July. Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018571/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 12:14:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2017474/posts Episcopal Seminaries Struggle With Costs Long-Held Training Model Faces an Uncertain Future By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Religion News Service Saturday, May 17, 2008; B09 In the cloistered world of Episcopal seminaries, time sometimes seems to stand still as clergy-in-training gather in stone chapels to pray in ways familiar to their forebears centuries earlier. But the semblance of timelessness can be deceiving. Some of the 11 seminaries affiliated with the Episcopal Church are slashing core programs, while others report rapid growth in enrollment. Still others are reexamining conventional wisdom about what it takes -- and how much it costs -- to... The Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2017474/posts#comment Sat, 17 May 2008 22:41:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2016677/posts COLORADO SPRINGS — An El Paso County District judge ruled Tuesday that the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and officials of Grace Church and St. Stephen's Parish in Colorado Springs must resolve their $17 million property dispute at trial. District Judge Larry E. Schwartz concluded that he cannot make a decision based solely on matters of law because "there is virtually no agreement as to the facts." Denver Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2016677/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 03:11:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013401/posts In an interview with Matt Lauer of NBC, practicing Homosexual controversialist Bishop Gene Robinson announced plans to enter into a ‘Civil Union’ with his Male Paramour. He told the interviewer it was “what God is telling me to do” Just as the splintering Anglican Communion was preparing for its International Lambeth Conference. Just as the controversy surrounding the actions of some orthodox Anglicans planning an alternative Conference seemed to be out of the limelight. Right at this time,a controversialist Bishop named Gene Robinson once again enters the limelight to make himself the center of attention. Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2013401/posts#comment Fri, 9 May 2008 02:04:34 GMT