Capping a week of debate in which opposing voices were scarce, the Episcopal Church USA’s House of Deputies, meeting in the faith’s 78th General Convention, voted 184-23 to approve the new liturgy.
In a separate action, Episcopal Church deputies voted 173 to 27 to approve the change to the church’s canon, or rules, redefining marriage as being between two persons, instead of a man and a woman.
“This is one of many bridges we need to build for the future,” said E. Bruce Garner, a deputy from Atlanta, of the change. But the Rev. José Luis Mendoza from Honduras opposed the move, saying it would cause schism in the church.
“This resolution goes against the biblical principles of our church,” he said. “Don’t be seduced by the fashion of society.”
The Episcopal Church vote comes on the heels of a June 26 Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states and a dramatic shift in public support for the change. Episcopalians now join the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ in offering such rituals to same-sex couples.
Read more at http://national.deseretnews.com/article/5044/Episcopal-Church-becomes-third-Protestant-denomination-to-adopt-rituals-for-same-sex-marriage.html#WbOCrEDFgMRJ47yb.99The use of the liturgies would be subject to the permission of a diocese’s bishop Read more at http://national.deseretnews.com/article/5044/Episcopal-Church-becomes-third-Protestant-denomination-to-adopt-rituals-for-same-sex-marriage.html#ILkwRp6fBPJTEHoI.99