Episcopalian One-upmanship

Actually, I should not have used the term "one-upmanship" when speaking of the Episcopal Church. It is, of course, a sexist term, one that kicks sand in the face of the diverse beings among us. Trouble is, I couldn't think of a suitable substitute. It will have to do.

The Episcopal Church, you see, continues to break new ground. First, it ordains women priests. Then it decides that openly homosexual men (and, of course, women) should also be elevated to the presbyterate. From here the next logical step was women bishops and then an active homosexual male bishop, preferably one who has dumped his wife for a male lover. But it ain't over, for there are new peaks to climb, new icons to smash. For the first, and I'm sure not the last, time the Episcopal Church has ordained a lesbian as a bishop. The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, of Baltimore, was ordained Saturday in the Long Beach Arena before a crowd of 3,000. She will serve in the Diocese of Los Angeles.

It seems the crowd was very pleased since they burst into applause after the ordination, although at least one man and a boy dissented. According to a news report, "the man stood, shouted about the need to repent and held up a sign that read 'Do not be deceived, homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.'" Moments later a young boy in the same section rose holding a Bible and shouted similar slogans. Both were escorted from the arena by security guards. Of course, two people dissenting from the bleachers are the least of the church's problems. This act will lead only to more fracturing within the worldwide Anglican communion. Click here to read one take on the issue: Upheaval in the Anglican communion over lesbian bishop.

I'm really not all that sure what our Episcopalian bothers and sisters will do next, but I'm sure the plans are in place. So many barriers remain to be broken down. Unless it's already been done, maybe we will soon see our first transgendered bishop. Of perhaps, in an effort to quash one of today's greatest sins against diversity -- speciesism -- they might decide to ordain a goat. Guess the rest of us will just have to wait and see.

Holy Mother of God, pray for us.