Presiding bishop of largest gay church to be installed at Anglican cathedral
-29/10/05
To the likely annoyance of anti-gay rights adherents across the Anglican Communion, Washington National Cathedral will later today (29 October 2005) host the installation of the Rev Nancy L. Wilson as Presiding Bishop of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the worldís largest gay-affirming Christian denomination.
During the installation, Bishop Wilson will unveil ëFocus on the Human Family,í an initiative to combat spiritual violence against gays and lesbians. It is especially concerned to challenge the hostile stance of groups like Dr James Dobsonís Focus on the Family.
A major mainline US seminary has also indicated that it will use the occasion to unveil plans for the establishment of a Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies.
Washington National Cathedral regards itself as ìa house of prayer for all peopleî It is the official seat of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA (Anglican) and is affiliated to the government by a charter of Congress, signed on 6 January1893. But it does not receive any federal, state or city funding.
Ms Wilson is an open lesbian and a veteran gay rights leader. In 1979, the soon-to-be bishop, who comes from Sarasota, Florida, participated in the first-ever meeting of gay US religious leaders at the White House – during the Jimmy Carter administration.
Mr Carter is a Baptist evangelical, but broke away from the Southern Baptist Convention five years ago over their rejectionist stance towards women and other issues.
The new Metropolitan Community Church leader has been an advocate of gay Christian concerns within the National Council of Churches USA and at the World Council of Churches.
In 1987, she represented MCC as an ecumenical observer at the bilateral dialogue of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Columbia, South Carolina, where she talked to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, becoming one of the first openly gay church leaders to meet the now Pope Benedict XVI.
Wilson has also been active on HIV issues, prisoner treatment programmes and womenís rights. She was formerly a member of the United Methodist Church, and she has lved with her partner, Dr Paula Schoenwether, for 27 years.
The denomination was founded by the Rev Troy Perry in Los Angeles in 1968. Today there are over 250 Metropolitan Community Churches located in 23 countries. Each year more than 225,000 people attend MCC programmes and services.
[Also on Ekklesia: UK conference on Gays and the Future of Anglicanism]
Presiding bishop of largest gay church to be installed at Anglican cathedral
-29/10/05
To the likely annoyance of anti-gay rights adherents across the Anglican Communion, Washington National Cathedral will later today (29 October 2005) host the installation of the Rev Nancy L. Wilson as Presiding Bishop of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), the world’s largest gay-affirming Christian denomination.
During the installation, Bishop Wilson will unveil ëFocus on the Human Family,’ an initiative to combat spiritual violence against gays and lesbians. It is especially concerned to challenge the hostile stance of groups like Dr James Dobson’s Focus on the Family.
A major mainline US seminary has also indicated that it will use the occasion to unveil plans for the establishment of a Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies.
Washington National Cathedral regards itself as ‘a house of prayer for all people’ It is the official seat of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA (Anglican) and is affiliated to the government by a charter of Congress, signed on 6 January1893. But it does not receive any federal, state or city funding.
Ms Wilson is an open lesbian and a veteran gay rights leader. In 1979, the soon-to-be bishop, who comes from Sarasota, Florida, participated in the first-ever meeting of gay US religious leaders at the White House – during the Jimmy Carter administration.
Mr Carter is a Baptist evangelical, but broke away from the Southern Baptist Convention five years ago over their rejectionist stance towards women and other issues.
The new Metropolitan Community Church leader has been an advocate of gay Christian concerns within the National Council of Churches USA and at the World Council of Churches.
In 1987, she represented MCC as an ecumenical observer at the bilateral dialogue of the Roman Catholic and Lutheran Churches in Columbia, South Carolina, where she talked to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, becoming one of the first openly gay church leaders to meet the now Pope Benedict XVI.
Wilson has also been active on HIV issues, prisoner treatment programmes and women’s rights. She was formerly a member of the United Methodist Church, and she has lved with her partner, Dr Paula Schoenwether, for 27 years.
The denomination was founded by the Rev Troy Perry in Los Angeles in 1968. Today there are over 250 Metropolitan Community Churches located in 23 countries. Each year more than 225,000 people attend MCC programmes and services.
[Also on Ekklesia: UK conference on Gays and the Future of Anglicanism]