Equality within the Anglican Communion Recently, the US Episcopal Church publicly took a stand for equal rights within the church for the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual members, resulting in the Anglican Communion punishing the Episcopal Church because of the conflicting beliefs and its refusal to withdraw its decision. Countless people are left feeling victimized and believe that the Anglican Communions actions were hypocritical and unfair to the gays and the Episcopal Church as a whole, but the Episcopalians are dealing with the consequences surprisingly well and with a stunningly mild temper. The Episcopal Church is mindful of the fact that it is resigning core doctrine shared by members of the Anglican Communion and have made …show more content…
In Zoll’s article, she reports that some outsiders feel that the decision made by the Communion is going to cause hefty conflict with the individual members of the Episcopal Church, and more so with the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual members for once again, being discriminated by the church. Christina Rees, a member of the General Synod, the governing body of the Church of England, speaks her mind on the absurdity of the decisions made to punish a loving churches actions to accept all people groups. She explains that the actions of the Anglican Communion are not how it should represent itself. Christina argues that the demotion is disgraceful and raises the question: “What action will now be taken against all those churches in the Anglican Communion who treat gay men and women as criminals? Will they be suspended for three years, too?’” (Banks). Christina Rees bluntly conveys her thoughts on how the decision and punishment made by the Anglican Communion is hypocritical because Anglicans should not treat any people the way that they treated the Episcopalians and the lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual members. Jim Naughton, a communications consultant specializing in the Episcopal church, and former canon for the Archdiocese of Washington, stated that the actions taken by the Anglican communion were, to put it simply, weird, and out of the ordinary (Banks). Though the Episcopalian Church has made its peace with the current situation, there are still many individual members, and third party participants, that are unsettled and discouraged with the
In the debate over homosexuality, Christian ethicists have many authorities to draw from. From the mixture of biblical sources, traditional authorities, empirical and descriptive accounts, and cultural norms, Cahill chooses general biblical themes and modern culture as the primary authorities for her ethic. This departure from traditional Roman Catholic teaching implies some flaw in the connection between the Holy Spirit, the church, and common believers. Cahill’s decision is her method of fixing this disconnect and reuniting Christ’s message with all believers.
The contemporary Church is so often a weak, ineffectual voice with an uncertain sound. It is so often the arch-supporter of the status quo. Far from being disturbed by the presence of the Church, the power structure of the average community is consoled by the Church's silent and often vocal sanction of things as they are.”
The lecture hall filled with the audience members’ conversations in the gymnasium-sized room, which the microphone on the podium in center stage amplified. Through the double door entrance to the hall walked a conference attendee named Adam Moore, who found his seat in the last of many perfectly aligned rows of folding chairs. He began reading the brochure handed to him as he arrived and “homosexuality” being on the list of discussion topics intrigued him because he is an openly homosexual member of the Episcopal Church. After all the discussions had concluded and the ministers and clergy answered every question, Moore approached Father McAllister and asked him to explain some of the Catholic Church’s teachings to him. Father McAllister happily agreed and they both returned to the lecture hall to have their conversation. Father McAllister sat next to Moore, who reclaimed his conference seat. Moore explained that although there were many topics he did not fully understand in Catholic Church teaching, there was only one he wanted to discuss with him. He sought to understand what the Catholic Church taught on the topic of homosexuality and what the Church’s opposition was to homosexual relationship...
Anglican adherence has seen a dramatic decrease from 39% in 1947 to 17.1% in 2011.
Have you ever thought something was unjust, but every one around you believed otherwise? For many years marriage was seen as a religious and legal contract between a man and a woman. However, in recent years the American population has accepted in increasing numbers the idea that homosexuality exists and is equal. Although the majority of states do not allow same-sex marriage, today there are fifteen states that allow homosexual couples the right to get married, and they also receive all the rights that a heterogeneous couple have. Even if states don’t have marriages, many states may have domestic partnerships or civil unions as alternatives. To those combating the injustice to homosexuals and those in favor of homosexual activities these civil unions and domestic partnerships aren’t enough. On the other hand, we see the stance that the Westboro Church has taken in their hatred of homosexuals. Although the majority of people are in support of gay marriage, including myself, I think it is important to understand the opposition. Therefore, I decided to write my final report on the Westboro Baptist Church and their ideologies against homosexuals, Jews, Catholics, and the military. The main focus will obviously be the church’s feelings against homosexuality because many of their rallies focus on that issue.
The Episcopal Church of the United States is one of the most debatable when it comes to the subject of homosexuality and creating equal rights amongst its members. The church embraces a new kind of transitioning belief that sets them aside from other denominations. The Episcopal Church stems from the Church of England, dating to at least the second century. The Church was founded from the very beginnings on the Christian beliefs and is customary to regard the St. Augustine of Canterbury's mission to England. This was the official beginning of the church under papal authority. In time, these churches branched away from their mother church and gained their individuality without raising and eyebrow retaining important connections with Anglican Communion by abiding by their religious laws (Episcopal Church 1999). Subsequently, the topic of homosexuality has placed a huge amount of stress and turmoil on the denomination, with conflicting views in the church community and with the Angelic communion who does not support the strides made by the Episcopalians. This isn’t the first time, certainly not the last for the Episcopal Church they have made great steps in including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community and encompassed a new kind of dedication to their members. The Episcopal Church throughout history and in today’s society are very well known for their unstandardized laws, ever changing structure and futuristic traditions.
Waldrep, C. The Use and Abuse of the Law: Public Opinion and United Methodist Church Trials of Ministers Performing Same-Sex Union Ceremonies. Law and History Review, 30, 953-1005.
Because of Schmelzer’s objective tone in “Five Christian Pastors…”, there is little appeal to the audience’s emotions favoring either stance of religious freedom. One piece of pathos Schmelzer does use, though, is the suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a young transgender teenager who underwent conversion therapy. Alcorn wrote of her experience and how much she had disliked it, inferring that it was one of the reasons she committed suicide. This reminds the audience of her death and, moreover, that people from the LGBT community have committed suicide due to their experience with reparative
In today’s society, there is a divide among Christians and homosexuals. Christians are being criticized for stating their beliefs about homosexuality. Society is accepting homosexuality as the new norm and expecting Christians to do the same. In Larry Alex Taunton’s article “The Genuine Conflict Being Ignored in the Duck Dynasty Debate,” Taunton begins the first paragraph stating “An evangelical Christian points out that there is, in fact, a tension between orthodox Christianity and homosexuality.”
The American debate on homosexuality reveals an unquestionable, though awfully uninvited, fusion between religion and politics, revealing a dangerous lack of separation between the church and state. The concern is not about the presence of spirituality in American politics, but the implications institutionalized religion has on the lives and rights of human beings. Nothing hinders the political and social progress of lesbian women and gay men quite like the complexities of religion. Dating back to the beginning of literature itself, homosexuality is far from modern. Nonetheless, homosexuality is currently the most divisive and fiercely debated topic in recent religious discourse. While most Christians maintain allegiance in labeling same-sex relationships as morally wrong, the church is dramatically divided on the proper place for gays and lesbians in American society and of course, American politics.
Sixty years from now, the American people will look back on the 21st century and be appalled at how the people from today allowed their government to make it illegal for certain couples to get married, just as the people of today are disgusted with the ban on marriage between interracial couples before 1967. Being so advanced technologically, it is surprising how America is still so behind on the issue of same-sex marriage. The United States should push aside the religious argument in this debate, and truly separate its church and state as it claims to do so. From its slow beginning to the rapid increase of support in the 70’s, homosexual marriage has been a controversial debate that hopefully will end in the near future.
Increasing numbers of lesbian and gay people are taking another look at the Catholic Church, which they thought had previously rejected them totally and definitively. Many are discovering in the Church a new spirit of understanding:
The Catholic Church’s corruption during the late Middle Ages further enabled church reforms due to the ever-increasing view of the loss of credibility within the church by both the laity and clergy. Thus implementing the ideas of reform. Martin Luther is considered the father of the reformation where he instigated the challenging for the church, papal authority, and changed how the people were allowed to worship. Carlstadt and Zwingli, much like Luther, practiced Evangelical traditions, however, they expanded further than Luther in regards to doctrine and practice. John Calvin on the other hand challenged some of the Evangelical and Reformed Traditions by various religious changes politically and socially. Lindberg examines the Evangelical
Women have fought through torture, blood, sweat, and tears to help women stand strong in our
Women have fought for equal rights since the early 1820s and 1830s. There is a strong commitment to equality between women and men in the law. Equality among men and women has gone on for several centuries and nothing has been done about it. Providing equal rights within men and women may decrease pressure on both men and women of what their stereotypical jobs should be. If equal rights would release pressure on all humans, then why are women treated as the subdominant sex? Women should have the same rights as men and to do this it is up to the entire human race to work together to fight for equality between men and women.