CONTACTAbout UsCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Equal Entertainment LLC.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.
Church pledges for next year are down $1.1 million in North Carolina's largest Episcopal diocese, officials say, because people are upset over the election of an openly gay bishop in New Hampshire. Michael B. Curry, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, voted with the majority of United States bishops to ratify the election of the Reverend V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the 2.3 million-member church. The denomination has also opened the door for blessing same-sex unions. "There has been an impact, and I'm not minimizing that," Curry said. "But there have also been Episcopalians who have stepped up to the plate and said serving Jesus is more important than matters we disagree about." The shortfall brings the total proposed budget for 2004 to $3.6 million, down from this year's $4 million budget. At least four staff positions at the diocesan headquarters will be cut. Fifteen of the diocese's 118 churches have said they will give no more than the minimum next year. This year only two churches pledged the lowest amount. "Folks are so bewildered and upset about what their church has done, they don't know what to do," said the Reverend John W. Gibson Jr., rector of the Church of the Holy Cross in Raleigh. "The only thing they can do is withhold their giving."
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Watch Now: Pride Today
Latest Stories
Appeals court rules transgender Florida teacher cannot use female pronouns in school
July 04 2025 7:00 AM
How dark will our skies be on July 4, 2026?
July 04 2025 6:00 AM
Queer subtext in Disney's 'Elio' was reportedly cut by Pixar
July 03 2025 12:30 PM
BREAKING: Supreme Court to decide whether states can ban transgender women & girls from sports
July 03 2025 10:02 AM
True
Who was Jimmy Swaggart, the late, anti-LGBTQ+, disgraced televangelist?
July 02 2025 5:40 PM
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down abortion ban from 1849
July 02 2025 11:55 AM
The deadly 'big beautiful' budget bill will turn America into a morgue
July 02 2025 11:28 AM