Episcopal Church to ordain transgender people

[Witchyjoshy]

Or, specifically, to prevent churches from banning transgendered people from becoming priests.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/09/episcopal-church-transgender-ordination_n_1660465.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

The Episcopal Church on Monday overwhelmingly voted to allow the ordination of transgender people.

At its triennial General Convention in Indianapolis, the church House of Deputies approved a change to the "nondiscrimination canons" to include "gender identity and expression." The move makes it illegal to bar from the priesthood people who were born into one gender and live as another or who do not identify themselves as male or female.

The church, which has 1.9 million members in the U.S., currently has rules against discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability and age for Episcopalians who want to become priests.

...

"We are filled with joy for this clear affirmation that the Episcopal Church welcomes and values the ministerial gifts of transgender people, lay and ordained. We are also delighted by the strong support and broad understanding of trans issues shown by deputies representing a wide range of regions and generations in this church. As the church steps boldly into new frontiers in various facets of its light, we are proud to be part of this spirit-filled movement," members of TransEpiscopal, a organization of transgender Episcopalians, said in a statement.

...

The church on Monday also voted to make it illegal to discriminate against transgender people in non-clergy positions in the church.

EXCELLENT news.  The Episcopal church is clearly a shining example of what the Anglican communion SHOULD be.

I am looking at you, Archbishop of Canterbury.

Also in further good news:

The House of Bishops on Monday also approved a provisional standard liturgy for priests to use in the blessing of same-sex relationships. Bishops approved the liturgy 111 to 41 with three abstentions. The House of Deputies is expected to vote on the matter before the church's meeting ends on Thursday.

[RavynousHunter]

The Vatican could learn a thing or two from these dirty heathens.

[Cerim Treascair]

This... has perked up my night, yes it has.

[Sylvana]

A church that actually follows what Jesus was preaching about non discrimination. That's novel.
Good on them for doing this.

[ThunderWulf]

More power to them.  Hopefully some others will see this is a good example.

[Witchyjoshy]

More power to them.  Hopefully some others will see this is a good example.

You're kidding, right?  Protestants and Catholics alike will use this as proof of how apostate the Episcopal Church is, and the Anglican church might send them a stern letter telling them to stop, which the Episcopal church will respond with a smile and a "No."

Episcopal church, while technically being a part of the Anglican church, has been showing signs that it's superior to its root church.  Probably because the Anglican church isn't even the real root church - "Episcopal" has Scottish heritage, not British.

[ThunderWulf]

More power to them.  Hopefully some others will see this is a good example.

You're kidding, right?  Protestants and Catholics alike will use this as proof of how apostate the Episcopal Church is, and the Anglican church might send them a stern letter telling them to stop, which the Episcopal church will respond with a smile and a "No."

Episcopal church, while technically being a part of the Anglican church, has been showing signs that it's superior to its root church.  Probably because the Anglican church isn't even the real root church - "Episcopal" has Scottish heritage, not British.

That's why I said HOPEFULLY.

I know, unfortunately, that most Christians will just point yell "heretics!" at the top of their lungs.

[Cerim Treascair]

meanwhile, everyone else that's sane will be embracing them, saying thank you, and generally telling them they're awesome.

[Vypernight]

If I was still Christian, I'd probably attend either an Episcopal or Quaker church.  I don't think I could go back to the Catholic church, no matter how much I believed again.

[TheL]

Fuck yeah, Episcopalians!!