Last December, the leading authority on Jewish law for Conservative Jews, the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, changed a previous ruling from 1992, and rules that it is consistent with Jewish law for Conservative Jews to bless same sex unions, The Jewish weekly, The Forward reports that there has been a growing acceptance of same sex blessings by Conservative Rabbis as a result.
Lutheran Pastor Brad Schmeling has lost his appeal to remain a pastor in a Lutheran Church in the Atlanta area. He was removed because he is a gay man in a relationship, which is contradictory to Lutheran canons.
As tolerance spreads, gay life is becoming more suburban, contented and even dull according to The Economist. The reason? Rapidly changing attitudes.
The last Lambeth meeting encouraged all the Provinces of the Communion to create forums for listening to the experience of LBTG christians who are seeking Christ within the congregations of the Anglican church.
The Anglican Communion Office has created called the Rev. Canon Phil Groves to serve as the facilitator of these programs around the church.
They once were important leaders in Exodus, a prominent ex-gay ministry movement. But yesterday, these three individuals publicly apologized “for the harm they said their efforts had caused many gays and lesbians who believed the group’s message that sexual orientation could be changed through prayer.”
Six retired Canadian Archbishops have called on the Anglican Church of Canada to take action in its summer synod which would allow Anglicans to perform blessing liturgies for same-sex couples.
Mark Regnerus’ new book, entitled “Forbidden Fruit: Sex & Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers” is a sociological study of the ways that personal faith influences young people’s choices regarding their choices to be sexually active or not.
There’s good news and bad news in the report.
Integrity Canada offers some responses to the Canadian House of Bishops statement that illustrate a perceived conflict in how they will treat the question of gays in the church.
Members of Integrity Canada are at turns offended, disappointed, and confused by the bishops’ ‘possible pastoral responses’ and demands for prolonged dialogue and study.
Anglican Essentials Canada also calls the for the Canadian HoB response to be rejected.
The Anglican Church of Canada’s House of Bishops has released a pastoral statement on same-sex blessings that will be sent to delegates of General Synod.