Episcopal Diocese of WNC approves resolution accepting gays for full inclusion in the church

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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I went downtown to Pritchard Park to check out the folks gathered to protest the passage of Proposition 8 in California this afternoon. During the numerous speeches, an Episcopal minister announced that the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina approve a resolution stating that a person’s sexual orientation would not bar them for full inclusion in the church.

I didn’t get the minister’s name, but she said the action happened during this week’s 87 annual convention of the diocese at Kanuga Conferences near Hendersonville. She said the news was a major move by the church.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church, was the principal guest of the meeting. She is the chief pastor of The Episcopal Church, which has 2.4 million members in 16 countries and 110 dioceses. She is the first woman elected to this position. This is her first official trip to western North Carolina where the Episcopal Diocese includes some 15,000 members in 62 congregations.

I’ll look for more details and post them as I get them. Do you have info to share? Please post!