News for Week Ending 9/15/2014

Kearon elected bishop in Church of Ireland

The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Kearon, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion—technically, of the Anglican Consultative Council—has been elected Bishop of the Diocese of Limerick and Killaloe in the Church of Ireland. Details can be found on the Anglican Communion News Service Web site here.

Pemberton takes legal action

As he vowed to do—see Pittsburgh Update story here—Canon Jeremy Pemberton filed an Equality Act claim in the Employment Tribunal September 8, 2014, against the Archbishop of York and the acting Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham. Pemberton was the first Church of England clergyman to marry his gay partner after such unions became legal in England, and sanctions against him led to a job offer being rescinded. Details and links to commentary have been provided by Thinking Anglicans.

CoE Shared Conversations nearing kickoff

The Church of England’s College of Bishops will be meeting September 15–17, 2014. The bishops are to shape the forthcoming Shared Conversations on Sexuality, Scripture and Mission. Those conversations, which seem to have much in common with the sexuality dialogue conducted in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, have attracted a good deal of commentary. The LGBTI Anglican Coalition has expressed support for the project. Changing Attitude, however, has called for an immediate change in the bishops’ position regarding marriage for homosexual clergy. Thinking Anglicans has reported on additional commentary here and here.

Rutherford Institute amicus brief available; AME Church files amicus brief

In a recent Pittsburgh Update story, we mentioned that the Rutherford Institute had filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the appeal of Episcopalians from the decision of the Texas Supreme Court in the Fort Worth and Masterson cases. That brief has now been posted on-line by the Episcopal Church in South Carolina. It can be found here.

On August 27, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Inc., also filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court. The AME brief refers to pending case in which members of an AME church have attempted to leave and take church property with them. The brief can be found here.

Western Massachusetts takes stand for renewal energy

The Trustees for the Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts passed a resolution August 27, 2014, that will result in divesting from fossil fuel investments and investing in renewal energy. Details can be read here.

Trinity conference to examine Christian faith and “same-sex attraction”

Trinity School for Ministry is sponsoring a conference October 10 and 11, 2014, titled “Christian Faith and Same-Sex Attraction.” (“Same-sex attraction” is a favorite conservative alternative to “homosexuality,” as it suggests a problem, rather than an orientation.) According to the TSM announcement:

How can our churches speak the Good News of Jesus Christ to our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer neighbors? And how can their faith and discipleship be nurtured so that they, in turn, can use their gifts and exercise their ministries in our churches? “Christian Faith and Same-Sex Attraction” is a conference designed to explore these questions.