The Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA in the state of new York William Lava claims that the Church is too fascinated by the topics of LGBT and opposes same-sex marriages in his diocese. The priest issued a special Directive, which States that the Church «took over» the situation about gay rights.
Pastoral Directive of the Bishop puts William Lava in opposition to the position of his Church. The fact that in July 2018, Church leaders passed a resolution which allows and blesses same-sex marriages in the dioceses of the Episcopal Church USA.
«The new policy towards the LGBT community turned upside down 2000 years of Church teaching on marriage, the Bishop says in a statement. — The Episcopal Church and Western society were captured by this agenda — it is well organized, well funded, has a solid strategy.»
In addition, William Love emphasizes that «Satan rejoices, bringing division in the Church on these issues [LGBT issues]».
Even in 2015, in the Episcopal Church adopted a resolution that protects the rights of LGBT people and allows gay marriage. Then, eight dioceses refused to carry out the provisions of the resolution on its territory. Even earlier, in 2009, the General Convention of the Church decided to conduct a special blessing service in the Church for gays and lesbians in States where same-sex marriage legal.
Today, William Love is the only priest who critically took the July resolution. In any case, so says the Reverend Susan Russell is the mother superior of inclusive Church in Los Angeles. «It’s sad that he [the Bishop Lav] sends these messages to the world. This [Directive William Lava] does not correspond to what is now the Episcopal Church, when fully integrates LGBT people in Church life,» emphasizes the Reverend Susan.
On Monday on the Directive of William Lava reacted presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the right Reverend Michael Curry. In a statement published on the website of the Church, Bishop Curry says that he has read the letter and the Directive of William Lava, and he is called a «deep pain all aspects of his problems.» The actual head of the Episcopal Church announced that a «spoke and will speak with the Bishop Lav on this subject [about LGBT issues and the Church]. We are committed to the principle of full and equal access to the sacraments for all the baptized children of God, including our twin brothers of LGBT people,» writes Michael Kerry.
Thus, the presiding Bishop said that Bishop Love has the right not to perform the rite of marriage for reasons of conscience: «We are also committed to respect the conscience of those who hold opinions different from the official policy of the Episcopal Church concerning the sacrament of marriage. It should be noted that the canons of the Episcopal Church give the right to all members of the clergy to refuse to perform marriage for reasons of conscience, and Resolution «B012″ the 79th General Convention of the Church does not change this fact», — said the head of the Episcopal Church.
The Episcopal Church in 2003 to ordain clergymen bishops and priests open homosexuals (both men and women). On this basis the Church has not once had disagreements with other Anglican religious currents and organizations.
