LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Los Angeles Episcopalians elected an openly lesbian bishop late Saturday, the denomination's news service reported.
The Rev. Mary Douglas Glasspool, 55, will become the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church since Gene Robinson took office in New Hampshire in 2004, if she is formally approved.
Conservative factions in the Anglican Communion -- a 77-million member denomination worldwide, with the Episcopal Church as its U.S. branch -- have opposed the ordination of gay bishops.
Glasspool's election is the first choice of an openly gay bishop since the church ended an agreement designed to keep the worldwide Anglican Communion from tearing itself apart. In the wake of the Robinson controversy, Episcopalians called a temporary halt to appointing any more openly gay bishops, to give the church time to hammer out a compromise. They voted this summer not to renew the ban.
Glasspool, now based in Baltimore at the Diocese of Maryland, is the first openly gay candidate elected bishop since then. The Diocese of Minnesota considered an openly gay candidate for bishop in October, but chose another priest when votes were cast.
Some Episcopal leaders reacted angrily to Glasspool's election. The Rev. Canon Kendall Harmon, canon theologian from the Diocese of South Carolina, said the election "represents an intransigent embrace of a pattern of life Christians throughout history and the world have rejected as against biblical teaching," according to the Episcopal Church site.
Glasspool also becomes the second woman bishop in the 114-year history of the diocese -- elected only hours after the first, the Rev. Diane Jardine Bruce, 53. She is the 17th woman elected as an Episcopal bishop nationwide, according to the diocese Web site. Her partner, Becki Sander, recently earned a doctorate in social work.
Glasspool, who has been ordained a priest for 27 years, is the daughter of an Episcopal priest, the diocese said.
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I think it is okay for gay people to be priests. It is Glasspool's choice to not prefer men as marriage partners. It is personal and she can still do her job as a bishop. She should not be judged by her sex life, but by her work as a bishop for the Episcopalian Church. There has always been gay people and we can't discriminate against them.
ReplyDeleteI am against gay rights, but in a different way than most conservatives. If you are gay, I will not be so hard on you; however, only if you are not open about it and don't want marriage that will give you special benefits. I disagree with people entering gay pride parades and demanding gay rights. I believe that you should live as if you weren't born gay; in other words, keep it to yourself. Now, this is exactly the opposite of what Glasspool did. She was open about it and almost sounded like she was proud of it. At first it was personal, until she "came out of the closet." The chances of her not bringing up her personal beliefs in a sermon are practically impossible. It would have been great if this weren't an issue, but the second she admitted to being gay, she made it an issue.
ReplyDeleteBefore I end my argument, I would also like to make sure people understand that gay rights have nothing to do with the rights of black people. For black people, it is impossible to hide the color of your skin; for gay people, it is possible to hide your sexual preferences. I just felt that it was necessary to make my arguement against that argument clear.
I dont feel that this is wrong at all. I feel it is no different that a black women or mexican man running for president. If someone want to be someone, i feel no one should hold them back. Everyone has a right, no matter what you believe in. Everyone new that she was lesbian. so i feel this ws perfectly fine.
ReplyDeleteI believe that a gay bishop is completely wrong. How is she supposed to preach the word of the bible when the way she is goes against what it says? Leviticus 18:22 "You shall not lie with a man as a woman that is an abomination" (that also pretains to lesbians, any people of the same gender together is wrong) CRYSTAL CLEAR. Being gay is supposed to be a NO-NO in the christain religion. I fail to understand how in the world that church has fallen so far to give into the demands of the gay community. I do not care if they exist being as they have the right to do so but as the bible also states in the letters of St. Paul, "Make no mistake: no fornicator or idolator, none who are guilty either of adultery or of homosexual perversion, no thieves or grabbers of drunkards of slanderers or swindlers, will possess the kindom of God." once again, CRYSTAL CLEAR. Homosexual people will not be admitted into heaven. What does that tell you folks?? Maybe that its a sin and wrong? Sure seems like it to me being as the bible, word of God, SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT. There is no way that a gay woman should be a bishop. That part of the Episcopal Church is falling apart and I hope will soon come to regret their descision.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Katie. I am a Christian, and the Bible makes it perfectly clear that being gay is wrong. I do not agree with putting people down for their 'sexual' sins, because I believe all sins are equal and that would just make me a hypocrite. But, I believe it is wrong for a person, living a life of sin (and not repenting), to be a leader of the church. If you deny one part of the bible, you deny the whole thing. She, obviously reads differently into what God says about being gay, when it's really crystal clear.
ReplyDeletei agree with hannah on this one i dont think that is wrong for her to have this job. she is oviously good enough to get the job in the first place so it shouldnt matter if she is gay or not. i thought our world was trying to get rid of the predjudice going on. how is this going to help anything? if she wants to be gay let her. thats her decision to make not anyone elses. i think that everyone should be treated the same no matter who or how they are.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie 100%. I'm all for people being gay and lesbian and whatnot, but if they're going to be like that they shouldn't be attempting to lead any Christian congregation. If people want to be gay that's totally fine but they should keep it to themselves and not go out and be a living contradiction to the Bible from the pulpit. Hannah, sure, gay people get jobs all the time and it's not a big deal, but becoming a bishop of what I'm sure is a very huge congregation is kind of a big deal.
ReplyDeleteAustin S5
Austin, if gay people are getting jobs all the time and it's not a big deal, what difference does it make if they're going to be a bishop or not? To me, it really doesn't matter if they're gay or not, and it shouldn't be any worse if there going to be a bishop or if there going to have a different job. Yeah, it says in the Bible that it's a sin, but God obviously wanted them to be this way. I really don't understand what the big deal is.
ReplyDeleteI think gay people are normal people like everyone else. They shouldnt look on the sexual oriantation of a person, they should look how good they do their job. I think if this woman does her job well, than its just fine. I really dont understand why people do such a big story out of that!
ReplyDeleteAnna R2
I think is really good.
ReplyDeleteI totally favor gays because I hate all kinds of prejudice and prejudice of gays is not different of any kind of it.
To me, the church is the most prejudice organization in the world and I think this is a huge step to change the people's mind about homessexuals. I think is the same huge step that when Barack Obama won the presidence. It showed that the United States, the country who has the fame of racism, is changing.
Just who knows and live with gays knows that they are not different of anybody, some really believe in god but can't go to church because it doesn't accept them!
Luiza E5
I agree with Anna because I don't think that their sexual status should matter, especially for a job. She said that if there good enough to do their job, they should get in no matter if they are gay or not. I agree with that, and I think it is wrong for somebody not to be able to get a job just because they are gay. I also agree with what Hannah said about how even though the Bible says being gay is wrong, God obviously wanted them to be that way.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about religion nor do i care. I all know is i don't view being gay as being wrong and I don't think it's right to stop them from having a certain job just because they are gay or not. You should be judged on your performace in the field of the job not being gay or straight.
ReplyDeleteI believe that everyone has the same rights no matter if you lesbian of gay. I believe that if you want to become a priest you may. No matter sexuallity you should be able to hold a position you desire. She wanted to become a priest and did so. This just shows beating the odds and coming out on top.
ReplyDelete