CANTERBURY, England — An international Anglican commission urged Episcopalians Dec. 8 to exercise “gracious restraint” by not confirming the election of a lesbian as a bishop in Los Angeles. Pastor Mary Glasspool was elected a suffragan (assistant) bishop by the Diocese of Los Angeles on Dec. 5. Glasspool, 55, has been with her partner since 1988, according to a biography she provided to the diocese. In the coming months, more than 100 bishops and standing committees from Episcopal dioceses across the country will vote on whether to give “consents,” or confirmation, to Glasspool’s election. If she receives confirmation, Glasspool will become the second openly gay bishop elected by the Episcopal Church.
On Dec. 8, an international Anglican committee established to promote unity in the communion said they discussed Glasspool’s election while meeting in England Dec. 1–8 and “expressed the fervent hope that ‘gracious restraint’ would be exercised by the Episcopal Church in this instance.” The Inter-Anglican Standing Commission on Unity, Faith and Order includes one American, Pastor Katherine Grieb of Virginia Theological Seminary. But the commission does not have the power to stop Glasspool’s confirmation.
The election of the first openly gay bishop, New Hampshire’s V. Gene Robinson, in 2003 has caused widespread dissent in the Anglican Communion, which includes the Protestant Episcopal Church as its U.S. branch. To quell the uproar, Anglican bishops, including the spiritual leader of the communion, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, have asked for a “period of gracious restraint” on consecrating any more gay bishops. However the Episcopal Church, which has about 2 million members, voted last July to lift its three-year-old moratorium on gay bishops. (TAB)
Share with others: