News for Week Ending 6/8/2015

Russian Orthodox Church breaks ties with French and Scottish churches

On June 4, 2015, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported that the Russian Orthodox Church has broken ties with Protestant churches in France and Scotland over the issue of same-sex marriage. The Moscow Patriarchate declared that contacts with France’s United Protestant Church and the Church of Scotland are pointless, given recent decisions by the two churches. The United Protestant Church voted to allow pastors to bless same-sex marriages, and the Church of Scotland, a Presbyterian church, approved ordaining clergy in same-sex civil unions. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.) Details are here.

Scottish Episcopal Church to vote on same-sex marriage

The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church will vote June 12, 2015, on whether to move forward in the process that would allow clergy to officiate at same-sex weddings. Full approval for clergy to perform such weddings could take two years. This story was reported June 7 by KaleidoScot. Additional information is available at Episcopal Café.

Brazilian church to celebrate 125-year anniversary

Episcopal News Service reported June 4, 2015, that the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil will celebrate its 125th anniversary this year. The church was begun in 1890 through the work of two missionaries from Virginia Theological Seminary. The church became an independent member of the Anglican Communion in 1965. It is therefore celebrating 50 years of autonomy. It is also celebrating 30 years of women’s ordination. Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori preached at Holy Trinity Cathedral, in Porto Alegre on June 7. Her sermon can be read here.

Episcopal Café offers guide to marriage commentary

The upcoming General Convention will be asked to consider resolutions recommended by the Task Force on the Study of Marriage. These resolutions, which are not uniformly popular, would move the church closer to approving a gender-neutral marriage liturgy. Episcopal Café has helpfully provided a guide to some of the commentary that has appeared related to the task force recommendations.

Heather Cook granted trial delay

The Baltimore Sun reported June 5, 2015, that Circuit Judge Wanda K. Heard has granted former Maryland suffragan bishop Heather Cook a postponement of her trial date to September 9. Cook faces numerous charges resulting from her vehicular killing of bicyclist Thomas Palermo on December 27, 2014. (See Pittsburgh Update story here.)

Diocesan priest running to raise money for Episcopal Relief & Development

The Rev. Bill Geiger, Rector of Christ Church, Indiana, will be one of a team of runners involved in a 194-mile relay in the Wasatch Mountains the weekend before the General Convention begins in Salt Lake City. The relay is a fund-raising event for Episcopal Relief & Development. Geiger, who was elected second alternate clergy deputy to the General Convention from the Diocese of Pittsburgh, will be attending as first alternate because the Rev. Moni McIntyre, the elected first alternate deputy, is unable to attend. The Diocese of Pittsburgh publicized Geiger’s run on the diocesan Web site. Additional information, including how to contribute to Episcopal Relief & Development, can be found here.