Thursday, July 02, 2015

Global South Statement on TEC marriage vote

Statement in response to the House of Bishops of The Episcopal Church resolution regarding same sex marriage

We are deeply grieved again by the Episcopal Church USA (TEC) Resolution to change the definition of marriage in their church canons in their current ongoing General Convention.

By this action, TEC has chosen by its own will and actions in clear knowledge to depart from the Anglican Communion’s standard teaching on human sexuality according to Lambeth Resolution 1:10. This TEC Resolution is another example of such unilateral decisions that are taken without giving the least consideration to the possible consequences on other provinces and the Anglican Communion as a whole, the ecumenical partnerships, the mission of the church worldwide, and the interfaith relations. This Resolution clearly contradicts the Holy Scriptures and God’s plan for creation as He created humankind as man and woman to complement each other physically and emotionally.

Indeed the church must provide pastoral care for all, whether heterosexuals or homosexuals. However the church should not alter the teachings of the Holy Scriptures, that was interpreted by the majority churches globally, to provide such pastoral care. The aim of pastoral care is to restore people to the bosom of God where they encounter His love and design to live a life according to His plan. We are against any criminalization of homosexuals, they are like all of us, need God’s mercy, grace and salvation. The church is intended by its Lord to be the holy leaven to shape society by its spiritual and moral values in line with God’s design. But sadly, by this action of TEC, the church gives way to the society to alter and shape its values. In other words the church is losing its distinctiveness as salt and light in this world.

“do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2)

This statement is approved by:

The Most Rev. Dr. Mouneer Anis
Archbishop, Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa and Chairman of Global South.

The Most Rev. Ian Ernest
Primate of the Indian Ocean and General Secretary of Global South

The Most Rev. Bolly Lapok
Primate of South East Asia and treasure of the Global South

The Most Rev. Stephen Than Myint Oo
Primate of Myanmar

The Most Rev. Hector “Tito” Zavala
Primate of the Anglican Church of South America

The Rt. Rev. John Chew
member of the GS Global South steering committee, former GS chairman.

02 Jul 2015

⃰ The above mentioned GS Primates are the ones who sent their approval and amendments before posting this statement. We will add the names of those who will send their approval after. Here

Statement of dissent issued by bishops to gay marriage vote
The Bishops of Tennessee, Central Florida, Dallas suff, Northern Indiana, Albany, Springfield, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Ecuador Litoral, Haiti, Columbia, Venezuela, Honduras, and the resigned bishops of Albany, Texas, South Carolina, and the Dominican Republic (asst) have presented a statement of dissent today to the vote to authorize trial rites for the same-sex marriages and amend the canons to make marriage gender neutral.

A statement read by the Rt. Rev. Michael Smith, Bishop of North Dakota at the close of the morning legislative session on 2 July 2015 thanked the house for the "graceful" way in which the minority had been treated. He stated that when they were consecrated the signatories made a vow to "guard the faith" and unity of the church. They would continue to work within the Episcopal Church, but could not agree with the actions taken by their peers. They would honor the moratoria set forward by the Windsor Report and instruments of unity in the Communion.

The statement would be offered to other members of the House of Bishops and to Episcopal clergy and lay men and women to endorse.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said "the House was frateful for the way the [dissenters] had dealt with these issues, very grateful, thank you."

Added: Bishops Letter of Dissent on Same-Sex Marriage 02 Jul 2015
Communion Partner signatories:

The Rt. Rev’d John C. Bauerschmidt, Bishop of Tennessee
The Rt. Rev’d Gregory O. Brewer, Bishop of Central Florida
The Rt. Rev’d Daniel W. Herzog, Bishop of Albany, resigned
The Rt. Rev’d Paul E. Lambert, Bishop Pro Tem of Dallas
The Rt. Rev’d Edward S. Little II, Bishop of Northern Indiana
The Rt. Rev’d William H. Love, Bishop of Albany
The Rt. Rev’d Daniel H. Martins, Bishop of Springfield
The Rt. Rev’d Edward L. Salmon, Bishop of South Carolina, resigned
The Rt. Rev’d William J. Skilton, Assistant Bishop of Dominican Republic, resigned
The Rt. Rev’d Michael G. Smith, Bishop of North Dakota
The Rt. Rev’d Don A. Wimberly, Bishop of Texas, resigned

Other signatories:
The Rt. Rev’d E. Ambrose Gumbs, Bishop of Virgin Islands
The Rt. Rev’d Julio Holguin, Bishop of Dominican Republic
The Rt. Rev’d Alfredo Morante, Bishop of Ecuador Litoral
The Rt. Rev’d Jean Zache Duracin, Bishop of Haiti
The Rt. Rev’d Francisco José Duque Gómez, Bishop of Colombia
The Rt. Rev’d Orlando Guerrero, Venezuela
The Rt. Rev’d Lloyd Allen, Bishop of Honduras

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