Gay clergy vote draws reaction

Some Episcopal clergy and lay leaders are disappointed about their church's decision this week to ordain gay bishops. But a Utah Episcopal priest attending the denomination's national assembly hasn't heard anyone threaten to leave the church.

The Rev. Lee Shaw, of Midvale's St. James Episcopal Church, spoke to the Deseret Morning News from Minneapolis this week. Some clergy of the Episcopal Church USA told the gathering that they fear this new decision will distance the American church from the worldwide Anglican community.

But as for a schism?

"One bishop said, 'I'm not threatening to leave; I'm threatening to stay,' " the Rev. Shaw said.

The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church USA on Tuesday ratified the selection of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as bishop of a diocese in New Hampshire.

But gay ordination is not just an Episcopal issue. In Utah's Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian churches, as well as in some Jewish congregations, debate also goes on about gay leadership and gay unions.

The Rev. Shaw believes the action taken this week by the Episcopalians will influence other denominations. "We are not the first, but we are early on. We are opening the door and other churches eventually will follow."

One Salt Lake Presbyterian, Una Stevenson, says she is delighted with the Episcopalians and hopes their decision will influence her church to make the same move. Stevenson, who attends Cottonwood Presbyterian Church, makes it clear that she doesn't speak for her congregation or presbytery (the governing body of the Presbyterian Church USA in this locale).

The Rev. Marvin Groote, executive director of the Presbytery of Utah, says the actions of the Episcopal church will have no influence on his denomination. "Although we are all Christian, there are differences between the denominations — differences in theology, practice, government." The Rev. Groote can't predict if the Episcopal church will split over this. "I can only look at it from the outside."

He says, "In terms of the Presbyterian Church USA, if we were to move today toward ordination of gays and lesbians, it probably would cause a split. But we aren't ready to move there yet. I don't know if we will ever be ready to move there. I'm not looking for a division of the Presbyterian church over this issue. Perhaps over something else, but not this issue."

Meanwhile, Salt Lake's Congregation Kol Ami will soon have a new rabbi, Tracee Rosen who is living in a lesbian relationship.