Gay, lesbain Episcopal priest nominated for bishop

Earlier this weekend, the Diocese of Michigan included a lesbian priest in the list of suggested candidates to serve as their next Bishop. Now a lesbian and a gay priest are both on the initial list of candidates to be considered to fill two assisting bishop positions in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles. You can almost hear the conservative bloggers and columnists working themselves into a lather about this. It is a long way from being on this short list to becoming a bishop in the Episcopal Church. A successful candidate must be elected by a majority of the clergy and lay leadership at a diocesan convention. Then a majority of bishops “with jurisdiction” and a majority of all diocesan steering committees must approve the election. One priest who won at the diocesan level was rejected by the bishops and/or standing committees after concerns were raised that he might be too into Zen Buddhism. Honest: you think I could make that up? Anyway, the Episcopal Church is still a far way from making a bishop out of another openly homosexual priest. But we seem to be closing the distance on that goal with remarkable speed.

During the run up to each stage of this process, look for some in the Anglican Communion to carry on at great length about how this will “Split the Communion!” Look, so far we can see, the Anglican Communion has already been split, and the schism has been done by those who have insisted they have no option but to go. The conservatives are the ones who are intent on leaving, and anyone who thnks sacrificing another generation of LGBT clergy could satisfy these schismatics is soundly out of touch with reality. See Gay Episcopal priest nominated for bishop Chicago Breaking News