Two Protestant churches, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Episcopal Church, have announced they will review their policies on same-sex marriage.
Both churches will soon hold meetings where they will discuss changing opinions leaning closer toward support for marriage equality, as well as the growing number of states where marriage equality is legal. In faiths like the Presbyterian church, though, a survey from February found 51 percent of church members still oppose same-sex marriage.
The Presbyterian Church U.S.A. opened its General Assembly on Friday, a biennial gathering to review church policy, and next week church leaders are expected to consider their response to the establishment of civil gay marriage in six U.S. states.
Several days later, the Episcopal Church, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, is due to hold its triennial General Convention during which it will consider establishing a ritual for blessing gay relationships.
“The landscape in the U.S. has changed radically even since our last assembly two years ago,” said Michael Adee, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, a national gay rights group. “The conversation has moved from the statehouse to the church. There’s a great awakening.”
Closing the gap, one day at a time.
June 30, 1559: Henry II of France is mortally wounded in a jousting tournament.
Poor Henry had been celebrating a treaty he’d recently signed with the Habsburgs and the marriage of his daughter when the fatal blow was dealt - by none other than the captain of the king’s own Scots Guard, the Count of Montgomery. Montgomery’s lance struck the king’s helmet and shattered, burying splinters in his face, including one in his eye and brain. Henry’s wife, his mistress, and his sickly son (who would soon become king) apparently all fainted at the sight. On his deathbed, Henry absolved Montgomery of any blame, but the count was so guilt-ridden that he left to Normandy and later converted to Protestantism.
The accession of Henry’s weak and inexperienced son, Francis II, exacerbated the growing conflict that would become the French Wars of Religion.
Heading off to the big @Marvel screening of @SpiderManMovie. (Taken with Instagram)
fluffybob on Flickr.
I’ve just gone through a few old pics of mine and found this one lurking in the depths of my flickr stream.
Very impressed with it!! Esp since I just used a compact camera and i just pointed + clicked!
light at the end of the tunnel… #potsdam #universityofpotsdam #light #dark #old #architecture #igdaily #instamood #photooftheday #photography #webstagram (Taken with Instagram at Universität Potsdam)
