It will come as no surprise that the Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Luke Orombi, is opposed. The Monitor reports "The Church of Uganda has expressed dismay over news that a lesbian in [sic] the diocese of Los Angeles in the United States has been elected an assistant bishop." More: "On Monday, Archbishop Luke Orombi’s assistant for International Relations, Ms Alison Barfoot, described as 'funny and unbiblical' the choice of Ms Glasspool. 'We believe the Bible condemns homosexual behaviour as immoral. So how can a homosexual be a bishop?' she said."

It will come as no surprise that Uganda is likely to pass a bill that execute Mary Glasspool and her companion of 21 years, and would make those who fail to out homosexuals subject to incarceration.

Robert Lundy, communications officer with the schismatic American Anglican Council, says "The Bible is very clear on its teachings regarding human sexuality, and the Christian church has taught the same thing for 2,000 years so there's no pretending that this is definitely a further step away from traditional, biblically based Christianity." Nothing said about the proposed law in Uganda. Which is pertinent when you recall that Orombi tried (and failed) to name Rev. J. Philip Ashey, chief operating officer of the American Anglican Council, as his representative to the Anglican Consultative Council Meeting in Jamaica this past summer.

Bishop Epting issued this statement:

As I complete my last days as ecumenical officer and reflect on the future of our church, I am praying especially for those of you with jurisdiction who will be deciding about consenting or not to the elections in Los Angeles. Despite veiled, nor not-so-veiled, warnings both from the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Los Angeles, please remember that consents are part of the discernment process. If the wider Church (represented by her bishops and standing committees) consents, the consecrations will properly go forward. If the wider Church does not consent, they will not. Either way: our canons will have been followed and nothing will have been violated concerning the ordination process being open to all the baptized. You are free to make whatever decision to which you believe the Holy Spirit is leading you.

“Clearly what Archbishop Rowan is implying is that if the American church goes forward and ordains a second person living in a same-sex partnership as bishop then it will damage, perhaps permanently, our place in the communion, and contribute toward its unraveling....“I think it’s a clear warning that we need to think seriously before giving consents.”

And Inclusive Church issued a statement entitled Open letter to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and the Bishop of Los Angeles. An extract:

While it gives us no pleasure to dissociate ourselves from the sentiments expressed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose wisdom in so many areas we deeply respect, we greatly regret the tone and content of his response, particularly in the context of his failure to make any comment on the seriously oppressive legislation being proposed in Uganda.

We wish you to know that there are a great many within the Church of England who like us are unequivocally supportive of TEC in being open to the election of bishops without regard to gender, race and sexuality. We pray that the Communion at large will grow in confidence and maturity, so that it can learn to celebrate both those things which hold us together and those things over which we disagree. In that context we greatly welcome the Theological Round Table recently announced by the Churches in India.

TAGS: Glasspool