The entire U.S. Episcopal Church has been suspended for three years over their recent embrace of same-sex marriage.
Archbishops of the worldwide Anglican Communion voted on Thursday to suspend the entire U.S. Episcopal Church over its recent acceptance of same-sex marriage in the wake last summer’s Supreme Court decision making gay marriage the law of the land.
The Archbishops, or “primates,” had intended on releasing the information on Friday; but, after the news was leaked, the church issued a statement confirming the decision.
Noting that “The traditional doctrine of the church in view of the teaching of Scripture, upholds marriage as between a man and a woman in faithful, lifelong union,” the statement said that the U.S. Episcopal Church’s embrace of same-sex marriage has caused “deep pain” and “deeper mistrust” within the denomination.
As NBC News reports, “The U.S. branch of the church has been at odds with the parent communion ever since it elected the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003.”
The Impact on the U.S. Episcopal Church
According to NBC News, “The vote by archbishops meeting in Canterbury, England, essentially directs Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to relegate almost 2 million American Episcopalians to non-voting “observer” status within their own communion.”
According to the terms of the primates’ resolution, for a period of three years, “The Episcopal Church no longer represent us on ecumenical and interfaith bodies, should not be appointed or elected to an internal standing committee and that while participating in the internal bodies of the Anglican Communion, they will not take part in decision making on any issues pertaining to doctrine or polity.”
Additionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury was formally asked “to appoint a Task Group to maintain conversation among ourselves with the intention of restoration of relationship, the rebuilding of mutual trust, healing the legacy of hurt, recognizing the extent of our commonality and exploring our deep differences, ensuring they are held between us in the love and grace of Christ.”
Reaction by the U.S. Episcopal Church
Prior to Thursday’s vote, U.S. Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry told the primates gathering in Canterbury, England, that the statement calling for the sanction would be painful for many in the Episcopal Church to receive.
“Many of us have committed ourselves and our church to being ‘a house of prayer for all people,’ as the Bible says, when all are truly welcome,” Curry said in remarks later released by the Episcopal News Service.
“Our commitment to be an inclusive church is not based on a social theory or capitulation to the ways of the culture, but on our belief that the outstretched arms of Jesus on the cross are a sign of the very love of God reaching out to us all. While I understand that many disagree with us, our decision regarding marriage is based on the belief that the words of the Apostle Paul to the Galatians are true for the church today: All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female, for all are one in Christ.”
“For so many who are committed to following Jesus in the way of love and being a church that lives that love, this decision will bring real pain,” he continued, adding: “For fellow disciples of Jesus in our church who are gay or lesbian, this will bring more pain. For many who have felt and been rejected by the church because of who they are, for many who have felt and been rejected by families and communities, our church opening itself in love was a sign of hope. And this will add pain on top of pain.”
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