The Rt. Rev. Russell Jacobus has announced that there will be no blessings from the church for gay and lesbian couples in the Diocese of Fond du Lac (Wisconsin), reported in the PostCrescent.com:
For Fond du Lac Episcopal Diocese churches wishing to perform same-sex relationship blessing ceremonies, Bishop Russell Jacobus’ decision is no … for now.
He told Saturday’s 138th Annual Diocesan Convention audience at the Holiday Inn Manitowoc that more study was needed “before we move forward into an era where the church would be re-interpreting … the historical and traditional view of marriage.”
After his address to delegates, Jacobus said only one church in the diocese, with 37 worshiping sites, had discussed and studied the issue with the kind of thoroughness he believes necessary without risking unnecessary divisiveness.
That congregation is St. James, the downtown Manitowoc church that hosted this weekend’s convention, with several of its members expressing disappointment with Jacobus’ decision.
Ruby Bernhart found the bishop’s words “heartbreaking” and said, “When you lose compassion for fellow human beings, you are no longer a Christian but a hypocrite.”