Leaders of the Church of England have voted to condemn same sex marriage and barred the Anglican Church in America because of its stance on homosexuality.
Archbishops and bishops from around the world met behind closed doors in Canterbury Cathedral and voted explicitly to condemn same-sex marriage, stating that marriage should be between ‘a man and a woman in faithful, longlife union’.
The American Episcopal Church will be suspended from participating in the life and work of the Anglican communion for three years while a task force is formed that will try and reconcile conflicting views of sexuality in the 85-million-member family of churches.
The Episcopal Church is the Anglican body in the United States.
The announcement came near the end of a weeklong meeting called by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, to heal rifts over same-sex relationships which has threaten to split the Anglican Communion apart.
Mr Welby, the Anglican spiritual leader, does not have the authority to force a compromise. He set a news conference Friday in Canterbury to explain the leaders’ decision.
Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who attended the meeting, told the other leaders their vote ‘will bring real pain’ to gays and lesbians and to Episcopalians ‘committed to following Jesus in the way of love and being a church that lives that love.’ Still, he said he was committed to the Anglican family. (Oh dear, Mr Curry. You are not fit to hold ecclesiastical office as you reject God's Word.)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3400431/Church-England-leaders-condemn-sex-marriage-despite-100-senior-Anglicans-criticising-discrimination-against-lesbian-gay-Christians.html#ixzz3xHZuTq5C
.jpeg)