US Church approves election of second gay bishop: The Church of England Newspaper, March 26, 2010, p 1. April 3, 2010
Posted by geoconger in Church of England Newspaper, Human Sexuality --- The gay issue, Los Angeles.trackback
First published in The Church of England Newspaper.
The bishops of the Episcopal Church have repudiated the Anglican Communion’s moratorium on the consecration of gay bishops, and have affirmed the election of Canon Mary Glasspool as Suffragan Bishop of Los Angeles.
On March 17, the Episcopal Church’s Office of Public Affairs announced that Canon Glasspool had received the support of a majority of the 110 diocesan standing committees and diocesan bishops in the church. She will be consecrated on May 15 by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.
A spokesman for the Presiding Bishop’s Office in New York declined to state how many bishops endorsed Canon Glasspool’s election. “There was a majority,” Neva Rae Fox told The Church of England Newspaper. “As in previous bishop elections, there are no plans to release the list of bishops.”
In a statement released through by the Diocese of Los Angeles, Canon Glasspool stated she was “profoundly grateful for the many people — in Los Angeles, in Maryland, and around the world — who have given their prayers, love, and support during this time of discernment.”
She stated she was “also aware that not everyone rejoices in this election and consent,” but added she “will work, pray, and continue to extend my own hands and heart to bridge those gaps, and strengthen the bonds of affection among all people, in the Name of Jesus Christ.”
The Bishop of Los Angeles, the Rt. Rev. J. Jon Bruno thanked those bishops and dioceses who had endorsed the election for their support. “These historic elections bring the first women to the episcopate in the Diocese of Los Angeles. I give thanks for this, and that the standing committees and bishops have demonstrated through their consents that the Episcopal Church, by canon, creates no barrier for ministry on the basis of gender and sexual orientation, among other factors.”
One of two suffragan bishops elected at the diocese’s Dec 4-5 convention, the 120-day consent process for Canon Glasspool’s election began on Jan 5. On March 8, the diocese announced that it had received notice that 61 dioceses had endorsed her election; 56 were needed for election.
Canon Diane Bruce, the other suffragan bishop elected at last year’s convention, whose consent process was started on Jan 8, received a majority of consents from both the bishops and dioceses by Feb 17, Los Angeles reported. Canon Glasspool’s episcopal support was not as quick in coming, and a majority of votes were only received in the run up to the March 19 House of Bishops meeting in Texas.
At the time of her election, Canon Glasspool (56) served as canon to the ordinary or assistant to the Bishop of Maryland. The daughter of an Episcopal priest, Canon Glasspool was educated at Dickinson College and trained for the ministry at the Episcopal Divinity School.
Ordained to the diaconate in 1981 and priesthood in 1982, she has served as a parish priest, lecturer, and administrator in her 28 years of ordained ministry. She has lived with a partner, Becki Sander, for the past 19 years.
