Episcopal Church Clears Way to Ordain Transgenders

The Episcopal Church approved Monday at its national convention an official prayer service for blessing same-sex couples and also cleared the way for transgender ordination, CNSNews.com reports. At the Episcopal General Convention in Indianapolis, the House of Bishops voted 111-41, with three abstentions, to authorize a provisional rite for same-sex unions within the next three years, which, if approved by convention deputies, will become the first such official prayer for use by the entire church. In a separate vote, the full convention approved new anti-discrimination language for transgendered clergy candidates and church members. Some dioceses already ordain transgendered people or elect them to positions of parish leadership, but advocates for the amendment argued they needed an explicit statement of acceptance as the church-wide policy.