Episcopal Church Approves Trans* Priests, Same-Sex Blessings

How about a little good news for today?

The Episcopal Church has approved a liturgy that will allow priests to bless same-sex couples, making the church the biggest in the United States to endorse such a rite.

Starting on Dec. 2, the first Sunday of Advent, priests whose bishops give the OK will be allowed to bless the unions of gay and lesbian couples, whether same-sex marriage is legal in that state or not. (It’s currently legal in six states, as well as in Washington, D.C.)

The church’s two voting bodies approved the rite by nearly an 80% majority Tuesday at the Episcopal General Convention in Indianapolis.
80%! Feel the homomentum!

And also:
Also, on Monday, the church approved a policy that will allow transgender people to become priests.
Woo-hoo! Feel the trans*momentum!

In an era when many U.S. Christian denominations are either openly hostile to LGBT*QI folk or deeply divided, it's good to see these strong messages of inclusion. While these developments are not the end-all of equality, this is definite progress. I hope the Episcopal Church (and other faith groups and philosophical communities) continue to evolve towards a message of full love and inclusion.


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