Church blesses unions

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Church blesses unions

St. Paul’s on Corner announces intent to recognize same-sex unions

By Michelle Davis, Associate Editor on October 5, 2011

St. Paul’s Memorial Church, an Episcopal Church on the Corner, may be blessing same-sex relationships by next spring.

The decision to recognize same-sex unions, which was announced during Rector James Richardson’s sermon last week, served as a response to the Episcopal Church’s years-long debate concerning “how to include gay and lesbian people in our church,” Richardson said.
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St. Paul’s, which falls into the Diocese of Virginia, is under the discretion of Bishop Shannon Johnston. To gauge the interest of his diocese before implementing any changes, Johnston started “a year-and-a-half of dialogue with formal listening meetings with diocesans,” Richardson said.
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St. Paul’s is one of seven churches in the Diocese of Virginia approved by Johnston to recognize same-sex relationships.