‘Two-Track’ Church Suggested by Archbishop of Canterbury

— The Most Rev. Rowan Williams, the , said among the world’s 77 million over and same- could divide their church into a “two-” yielding “two styles of being .”

The formula could avert a formal breach between and but bring new in the between the global Anglican Communion and American Episcopalians who resolved this month to open the door to ordaining openly gay bishops and to start the process of developing rites for same-sex marriages.

insisted that the issue should not be debated “in apocalyptic terms of and excommunication but plainly as what they are — two styles of being .”

In a lengthy message published Monday on his Web site, the archbishop offered a detailed and nuanced response to at the convention in , Calif., this month when -rights in the chalked up major victories over on . The is the official branch of the in the .

The developments were seen by and as likely turning points in the history of the divided , reflecting the profound rifts over within — the world’s third largest network of Christian after the and Orthodox . The differences have crystallized around the ’s consent in 2003 to the of the church’s first openly bishop, V. Gene Robinson of .

The Episcopalians had agreed to a on the election of , but it was lifted at the convention in .

The is the of the , which is composed of 38 provinces worldwide. The claims about 2.3 million .

In his message, repeated his view that “a blessing for a same- union cannot have the authority” of the full , any more than a blessing for a couple living outside would have.

That, in turn, means that as long as the broader church “as a whole does not bless same- , a person living in such a union cannot without serious incongruity have a representative function in a Church whose public teaching is at with their .”

The issues have confronted the archbishop with not simply between and in the but also across the broader church with its many in , Britain and elsewhere. Four in the and many individual have broken away from the national to forge alliances with such as the Church of .

said: “There is at least the possibility of a twofold ecclesial reality in view in the middle distance: that is, a ‘covenanted’ global body, fully sharing certain aspects of a vision of how the Church should be and behave, able to take part as a body in ecumenical and interfaith ; and, related to this body, but in less formal ways with fewer formal expectations, there may be associated local in various kinds of mutual and with one another and with ‘covenanted’ provinces.”

The archbishop has promoted the idea of — described by some analysts as a kind of good-behavior guide for — to overcome the rift.

“This has been called a ‘two-tier’ model, or, more disparagingly, a first- and second-class structure,” the archbishop’s message said. “But perhaps we are faced with the possibility rather of a ‘two-track’ model, two ways of witnessing to the heritage, one of which had decided that local had to be the prevailing value and so had in good declined a covenantal structure.”

The message continued: “It helps to be clear about these possible futures, however much we think them less than ideal, and to speak about them not in apocalyptic terms of and excommunication but plainly as what they are — two styles of being , whose mutual relation will certainly need working out but which would not exclude in mission and service of the kind now shared in the .”

See Anglican Sees ‘Two-Track’ Church @

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Boy accused of killing gay classmate bragged he had guns at home, police say

junior student Brandon bragged that he had at home if he ever wanted to kill someone, a testified at the youth’s today in Ventura County .

made the comment to another student at E.O. Green Junior High in sometime before walking into the classroom and allegedly gunning down on the morning of Feb. 12, 2008, said police . Kevin .

“Brandon said if he ever wanted to kill anybody, his had a bunch of and he had the ,” told the court. Other testified that , then 14, and King had been feuding over King’s alleged romantic toward .

was clearly irritated after King, 15, reportedly said, “Baby, I you,” the day before the shooting occurred, based on with students. Other students reported similar threats, he said.

reportedly told one of King’s the day before the shooting, “Tell Larry goodbye because you’re not going to see him again,” said. Other students reported similar threats, he said.

The came during the first day of a to determine whether the case should go to trial.

See Boy accused of killing gay classmate bragged he had guns at home

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Obama urges lesbian, gay patience overturning ‘unjust laws’

Remarks by at the Month Reception, June 29, 2009

THE PRESIDENT: Hello, everybody. Hello, hello, hello. (.) Hey! Good to see you. (.) I’m waiting for FLOTUS here. FLOTUS always more than .

MRS. : No, you move too slow. (.)

THE : It is great to see everybody here today and they’re just — I’ve got a of in the room, but there are some I want to especially acknowledge. First of all, somebody who helped ensure that we are in the , Steve Hildebrand. Please give Steve a big round of . (.) Where’s Steve? He’s around here somewhere. (.)

The new chair of the Export-Import Bank, . (.) Where’s Fred? There’s Fred. Good to see you, Fred. Our Director of the Institute of Sciences at DOE, . Where’s John? (.) A couple of special — Bishop Gene Robinson. Where’s Gene? (.) Hey, Gene. Michael Guest is here. (.) Jim is here. (.) Oregon is here. (.) All of you are here. ( and .) Welcome to your . (.) So.

MEMBER: (Inaudible.) (.)

THE : Somebody asked from the Bedroom here. (.) You knew I was from Chicago too. (.)

It’s good to see so many and familiar , and I deeply appreciate the support I’ve received from so many of you. Michelle appreciates it and I want you to know that you have our support as well. (.) And you have my thanks for the work you do every day in pursuit of

on behalf of the millions of in this country who work hard and care about their communities — and who are , , , or . (.)

Now this , I don’t need to tell you, is incredibly difficult, although I think it’s important to consider the extraordinary progress that we have made. There are to overturn and unfair practices to stop. And though we’ve made progress, there are still , perhaps or even family and loved ones, who still hold fast to worn arguments and old ; who fail to see your families like their families; and who would deny you the rights that most Americans take for granted. And I know this is painful and I know it can be heartbreaking.

And yet all of you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make but also by the power of the example that you set in your own lives — as and , as PTA and leaders in the community. And that’s important, and I’m glad that so many families could join us today. (.) For we know that progress depends not only on changing laws but also changing hearts. And that real, transformative change never begins in Washington (cellphone “quacks”). Whose duck is back there? (.)

MRS. : It’s a duck.

THE : There’s a duck quacking in there somewhere. (.) Where do you guys get these ring tones, by the way? (.) I’m just curious. (.)

Indeed, that’s the story of the movement for and — not just for those who are , but for all those in our history who’ve been denied the of ; who’ve been told that the full and opportunities of this country were closed to them. It’s the story of progress sought by those who started off with little influence or power; by who brought about change through quiet, personal acts of compassion and and sometimes defiance wherever and whenever they could.

That’s the story of a who’s here today, , who was fired — (.) Frank was fired from his as an astronomer for the simply because he was . And in 1965, he a outside the , which was at the time both an of but also an of extraordinary . And so we are proud of you, Frank, and we are grateful to you for your . (.)

It’s the story of the , which took place 40 years ago this week, when a group of — with few and fewer supporters — decided they’d had enough and refused to accept a policy of wanton . And who were at those are here today. Imagine the journey that they’ve traveled.

It’s the story of an that decimated a community — and the who came to support one another and save one another; and who continue to fight this ; and who demonstrated before the world that different kinds of families can show the same compassion and support in a time of need — that we all share the capacity to .

So this story, this , continues today — for even as we extraordinary as a nation, we cannot — and will not — put aside issues of basic . (.) We seek an America in which no one feels the pain of based on who you are or who you .

And I know that many in this room don’t believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that. It’s not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to who were petitioning for a half-century ago.

But I say this: We have made progress and we will make more. And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by I’ve made, but by the that my administration keeps. And by the time you receive — (.) We’ve been in office now. I suspect that by the time this administration is over, I think you guys will have pretty good about the administration. (.)

Now while there is much more work to do, we can point to important changes we’ve already put in place since coming into office. I’ve signed a memorandum requiring all agencies to extend as many federal benefits as possible to families as law allows.

And these are benefits that will make a real difference for and , who are so often treated as if their families don’t exist. And I’d like to note that one of the key in helping us develop this policy is , our director of the , who is here today. And I want to thank . (.)

I’ve called on to repeal the so-called Defense of to help end — () — to help end against same- in this country. Now I want to add we have a duty to uphold existing law, but I believe we must do so in a way that does not exacerbate old divides. And fulfilling this duty in upholding the law in no way lessens my commitment to reversing this law. I’ve made that clear.

I’m also urging to pass the Benefits and Obligations , which will the full range of benefits, including healthcare, to and their children. (.) My administration is also working hard to pass an employee bill and hate-crimes bill, and we’re making progress on both fronts. (.) Judy and Dennis Shepard, as well as their son Logan, are here today. I with Judy in the in May — () — and I assured her and I assured all of you that we are going to pass an inclusive hate-crimes bill into law, a bill named for their son Matthew. (.)

In addition, my administration is committed to rescinding the discriminatory ban on entry to the based on status. (.) The just concluded a review of a to repeal this entry ban, which is a first and very big step toward ending this policy.

And we all know that / continues to be a public threat in many communities, including right here in the District of . And that’s why this past Saturday, on National Testing Day, I was proud once again to encourage all Americans to know their status and get tested the way Michelle and I know our status and got tested. (.)

And finally, I want to say a word about “don’t ask, don’t tell.” As I said before — I’ll say it again — I believe “don’t ask, don’t tell” doesn’t contribute to our . (.) In fact, I believe preventing patriotic Americans from serving their country weakens our . (.)

Now, my administration is already working with the and of the House and the on how we’ll go about ending this policy, which will require an of .

Someday, I’m confident, we’ll look back at this and ask why it generated such angst, but as , in a time of war, I do have a responsibility to see that this change is administered in a practical way and a way that takes over the long term. That’s why I’ve asked the secretary of Defense and the chairman of the Joint to develop a plan for how to thoroughly implement a repeal.

I know that every day that passes without a resolution is a deep to those who continue to be discharged under this policy — patriots who often possess critical and years of training and who’ve served this country well. But what I hope is that these cases underscore the urgency of reversing this policy not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it is essential for our .

Now even as we take these steps, we must recognize that real progress depends not only on the laws we change but, as I said before, on the hearts we open. For if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll acknowledge that there are good and decent in this country who don’t yet fully embrace their — not yet.

That’s why I’ve spoken about these issues not just in front of you, but in front of unlikely audiences — in front of African American church , in front of other audiences that have traditionally resisted these changes. And that’s what I’ll continue to do so. That’s how we’ll shift . That’s how we’ll honor the of leaders like Frank and many others who have refused to accept anything less than full and equal .

Now 40 years ago, in the of at a place called the Inn, a group of , including a few who are here today, as I said, defied an unjust policy and awakened a nascent movement.

It was the middle of the night. The police stormed the bar, which was known for being one of the few spots where it was safe to be in New York. Now raids like this were entirely ordinary. Because it was considered obscene and illegal to be , no establishments for and could get licenses to operate. The of these businesses, combined with the vulnerability of the community itself, meant places like , and the inside, were often the victims of and .

Now ordinarily, the would come and the customers would disperse. But on this night, something was different. There are many accounts of what happened, and much has been to history, but what we do know is this: didn’t leave. They stood their ground. And over the course of several nights they declared that they had seen enough in their time.

This was an against not just what they experienced that night, but what they had experienced their whole lives. And as with so many movements, it was also something more: It was at this defining moment that these folks who had been marginalized up to challenge not just how the world saw them, but also how they saw themselves.

As we’ve seen so many times in history, once that takes hold there is little that can stand in its way. (.) And the riots at gave way to , and gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a that continues to this day. It continues when a fights for her right to at the hospital bedside of a she loves. It continues when a is called a name for being different and says, “So what if I am?” It continues in your work and in your , in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest.

In one year after the , a few hundred and and their supporters gathered at the Inn to a historic march for . But when they reached Central Park, the few hundred that began the march had swelled to 5,000. Something had changed, and it would never change back.

The is when these folks protested at 40 years ago no one could have imagined that you — or, for that matter, I () — would be standing here today. (.) So we are all witnesses to monumental changes in this country.

That should give us hope, but we cannot rest. We must continue to do our part to make progress — step by step, law by law, mind by changing mind. And I want you to know that in this task I will not only be your friend, I will continue to be an and a and a who fights with you and for you.

Thanks very much, everybody. bless you. (.) Thank you. It’s a little stuffed in here. We’re going to open — we opened up that door. We’re going to walk this way, and then we’re going to come around and we’ll see some of you over there, all right? (.) But out there. (.)

But thank you very much, all, for being here. Enjoy the . Thank you. (.) ###

See Obama urges lesbian, gay patience overturning ‘unjust laws’ (text)

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Politics, Religion and Discourse: A Conversation about Same Sex Marriage.

SAVE THE DATE

 

Monday, June 22, at 7PM at .

 

, and Discourse: A Conversation about Same .

 

Panelists:

, ,

Doug Kahn, of the based Jewish

, The Fellowship, a multi-denominational fellowship of 110 and representing 56 and -based organizations throughout the and .

Lindi Ramsden, of the Legislative Ministry, California

Joe Tuman, , 5 Eyewitness News, Professor, , Author “ in American ” (, 2008)

 

Moderator Bishop , , Northern California

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10 Reasons Why a LGBT March on Washington is a Bad Idea

this up as one of the worst ideas ever. Speaking at Utah yesterday, Cleve Jones announced plans for a march on Washington on October 11th. Of course, the will be on . the headline: “ for rights is being planned for Oct. 11.” There are 10 major reasons why this a . See 10 Reasons Why a LGBT March on Washington is a Bad Idea

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Young, Queer and Reflecting on Organizing Around Marriage

I was in last week when the California announced its decision upholding Prop 8 and I took the opportunity to interview some of my in the community about their thoughts on the efforts to for .

Going into this project, I wasn’t sure what I’d hear. I knew from previous that many in my community of young, had questioned whether organizations should continue to prioritize recognition at the cost of other .

While some folks were still questioning our community’s attention to , I heard from other folks that their opinions on the significance of had changed after they’d witnessed the mobilizations in the wake of Prop 8. One of the mobilizations and the of in the was that my seemed to have spent a of time trying to figure out how they felt about both personally and politically. As Jon, a in public at , said, became something he “had to take more of an opinion on.”

I found the of offered in these insightful and so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share a few clips in the following video @ Young, Queer and Reflecting on Organizing Around Marriage

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Voices of Witness Africa New documentary tells stories of gay Anglicans

Voices of Witness Africa is a new 30-minute intended to help Episcopalians listen to the views and of who are , , and (GLBT) and to emphasize that is “not just a North American or European issue,” says the Rev. .

Co-produced by Black, rector of Christ the King Church in Kalamazoo/Texas Corners, Michigan, and , a writer and based in Fort Worth, Texas, the features GLBT who talk about their lives and their with and the church.

“The of folks from around the world need to be heard,” says Black.

Among those interviewed for the is the Rt. Rev. Christopher Senyonjo, retired bishop of the Diocese of West Buganda in the Anglican Church of Uganda, who a study and group for . “I’m sorry about what the church is saying. loves you, loves you,” Senyonjo says in support of GLBT . While he acknowledges that speaking out has been “very risky,” Senyonjo adds, “When you know the , it should make you free.”

Although is illegal in most , “several in the film cite cause for hope,” said a from the Chicago Consultation, a sponsoring of the .

“Many, many years ago, when the townships were in smoke and were dying, we never thought that we would be where we are now,” Yvonne Daki, manager of iThemba Lam Center of Inclusive and Affirming Ministries in South , says in the . “We will have one day a situation where can speak openly about their .”

For Black, one of the surprises when working on the was “how willing were to have their name and image used publicly, even when they knew their bishop would be receiving a copy of the film, and even when there could potentially be horrific for doing so … Their is incredible.”

Sherrod was most impressed how the interviewees’ “informs their actions every minute of every day. All of them spoke of as a intimate part of their lives, a presence who gives them hope and strength in the of terrible oppression and active , not only by the state, but in most cases by the in their country. To the depth of their was inspiring and humbling.”

“Viewers who have followed the plight of GLBT in will hear familiar and tragic stories of , and abuse,” the Chicago Consultation said. “However, they may also be surprised by the support and hope voiced by some of the film’s subjects, including African and .”

Black said that much can be found in the stories of hope that were heard — “hope that one day the church will have moved beyond the issues of that divide it.”

All the instruments of communion have supported a process of listening to the of throughout the . At the 1998 , resolution 1.10 committed all the provinces of the to a listening process. It was not until 2005 that the Listening Process was officially launched with the of a who would monitor the work being done, share the results and enable further listening.

The Anglican Consultative Council, the ’s most representative policy-making body, in in May 2009 and supported the renewal of the Listening Process, which has received a 2.5-year grant from the Satcher Institute at the Morehouse School of in Atlanta, Georgia to run five “pilot ” around the .

The “ of is being released just before the ’s General Convention, which will be held July 8-17 in , California. “At the meeting, and will discuss both the church’s mission in the developing world and the of , , and ,” the Chicago Consultation said. “The film is being mailed in advance to all and . It is also being mailed to all of the , including those who that are hostile to GLBT .”

“With General Convention approaching, some on what effect its actions might have on the part of the that is more than the ,” said Black. “I think the film helps us to remember that there are of folks in the who are watching what the does.”

Further information on the film, including a study guide for use in parishes, is available here.

Future public screenings of of will be held on:

June 5: , Pasadena, California

June 6: Christ , Dearborn

June 7: Divinity School, Cambridge

June 8: All Saints’ , Chicago

June 10: Church of the Ascension, Silver Spring, Maryland

June 12: Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis, Missouri

June 14: St. Stephen’s , Houston, Texas

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Senate to Hold First-Ever Hearing Addressing Anti-Gay Discrimination in U.S. Immigration Law

June 3rd Hearing Will Uniting

The will hold its first-ever hearing on The Uniting (UAFA), a bill to end against and Americans in U.S. law and allow and to sponsor their partners for residency in the .

The hearing was scheduled by Senator (D-VT), Chairman of the and the sponsor of UAFA. Witnesses will include binational who have been separated, or separation, because of discriminatory U.S. law.

 An estimated 36,000 binational are affected by U.S. laws prohibiting and Americans from sponsoring their partners for residency. Countless and families, including many with children, are torn apart by U.S. law, or are forced to leave the to remain together. While 19 other nations allow and to sponsor their partners, the continues to discriminate against of families. As the nation prepares to consider reform, the hearing will provide an important opportunity for to hear from some of those families.

The session is set for Wednesday, , 2009, 10:00 a.m. in Room 226 – Dirksen Office Building, Washington, D.C.

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“Voices of Witness Africa” Screening Set for May 10

The film “ of ” will be shown at St. John’s at 7:30 pm on Sunday May 10. One of the , the Rev. of Kalamazoo, MI, will be there for this premier showing.
As long ago as 1978, the of urged the church to listen to who are , , and (GLBT). Now a powerful new half-hour film, of , helps Episcopalians keep the church’s commitment to listen.
As we move toward the ’s General Convention this summer, issues involving full of all the baptized, including , will once again be front and center. Much of the U.S. , like our , has moved toward full — but this impulse encounters deep from other parts of the where is viewed as a foreign, perhaps , import. dispels any claim that there are no — and gives us an opportunity to listen to their hopes and . See www.saintjohnsf.org

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Tom Cruise Top Gun Costar McGillis: Yup, She’s Gay E! Online

Who knew when Tom Cruise famously serenaded in with “You’ve That ” it would be a foreshadowing of things to come?

In a new interview with SheWired.com, McGillis reveals that she’s . Now single, the 51-year-old told videoblogger Jennifer Corday that she was looking for a . “I’m done with the ,” she said. “I did that. I need to move on in life.”

McGillis’ breakout role, as an mother in opposite Harrison Ford in 1985, earned her a Golden . Top Gun followed in 1986, and then two years later, she played an attorney for a victim (a role which earned Jodie Foster an ) in The Accused.

See Tom Cruise Top Gun Costar McGillis: Yup, She’s Gay

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