DANCE PARTY E.C.U.S.A.

Gene , Gene the dancing machine  -  ( otherwise known as the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire )  -  will no longer be going stag when all those men in dresses ( and ladies..) gather behind closed doors to talk about stuff and plan things. As of tonight, well this afternoon on the left coast, the Episcopal Church said no to oppression and bigotry and did away with their little Bruce Crow law that denied the Episcopate to the GLBT crowd. 

Half the folks that I know here in Rochester are all out in Anaheim, California doing the Lords work at the Episcopal General Convention. ( that's why we have the rowdy black puppy, her family is out there...). The Episcopal Church is set up just like the United States Government - or visa versa depending on who you ask - with two houses , the lower with mere priests and the great unwashed that are the Episcopal Lay, ( the House) and all the Bishops playing the roll of The Senate. 

Yesterday, " the House" overwhelmingly passed a new law gutting the old anti gay law and sent it on to " the Senate" which tonight , agreed. The Frozen Chosen thaw, just a little bit! Visions of light bulbs changing all over this great nation of ours. 

MUCH, much hard work has been done on this front for years and years, and I am very proud to say that Neil really has been at the for front of this battle since waaaay, before I came into the picture. ( although he is much happier doing it WITH me..)

Here is the story FRESH off the AP wire:

NEW YORK (AP) — The Episcopal Church moved Monday toward affirming their acceptance of gays and lesbians for all roles in ministry, despite pressure from fellow Anglicans worldwide for a decisive moratorium on consecrating another openly gay bishop.
Bishops at the Episcopal General Convention in Anaheim, Calif., voted 99-45 with two abstentions for a statement declaring "God has called and may call" to ministry gays in committed lifelong relationships.
Lay and priest delegates to the meeting had comfortably approved a nearly identical statement, and were expected to adopt the latest version before the meeting ends Friday.

(continue reading)

And from the head non mitered Episcopal gay Susan Russell:

"By a nearly 2-1 margin, the bishops of the Episcopal Church passed an amended version of resolution D025, which effectively ends the “BO33 Era” and returns the church to relying on its canons and discernment processes for the election of bishops. “While concurrence on the amended resolution by the House of Deputies is necessary before it is officially adopted by the church as a whole,” said Integrity President Susan Russell, “there is no question that today’s vote in the House of Bishops was an historic move forward and a great day for all who support the full inclusion of all the baptized in the Body of Christ.”

I am real sure that there will be a slight nutjob explosion tomorrow.. but for now, just let the folks out there disco dance in the streets and swill the sacramental Cristal. Ding Dong the wicked witch of age old oppression and African theocrats is dead.

Gosh,I know, now the Church can put this behind them and get on the the hard Christan stuff... poor, sick, lonely, war, famine... It is NOT a religion for light-weights..., and they pretty much proved that , tonight.

Mazal-tov!

UPDATE 1 : The NYT take on the story. 

UPDATE 2 : The BBC weighs in.