Episcopal Church OKs gay nuptials, trans ministers

Bishop Gene Robinson became the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay Bishop in 2003, setting the stage for a decade of advances for LGBT people in the church, culminating with this week’s announcement. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

INDIANAPOLIS — The Episcopal Church became the largest American mainline Protestant denomination to back marriage equality when the church’s General Convention approved a new liturgy for blessing same-sex marriages in jurisdictions where such marriages are legal

The American wing of the Anglican church — which at more than 2 million faithful is one of the nation’s largest faiths — also added gender identity protections to their rules for ordination and “life, worship and governance of the church,” as well as a resolution backing immigration protections for same-sex bi-national couples.

“This is a great day for the Episcopal Church and people of faith everywhere,” said Rev. MacArthur Flournoy, deputy director of HRC’s Religion and Faith Program.  “The Church reaffirmed to LGBT Episcopalians they are also God’s children and they deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and compassion.”