CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
A bill that would have given congregations that break away from their denomination leverage to retain control of church property died Monday in the Virginia state senate. Its sponsor, Sen. William Mims, recommended that the measure be referred back to the senate general laws committee, effectively killing the bill. The bill created an uproar among many of Virginia's religious leaders, who argued it was drafted in response to the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. V. Gene Robinson's consecration angered many Episcopalians, who also protested the church's decision to allow blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. Thousands of Episcopalians who opposed the decisions met in Woodbridge last month to discuss forming their own network of dioceses and congregations. Internationally, Anglican church leaders have threatened to cut ties with the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion. The bill also would have allowed seceding congregations to be independent of any church, diocese, or society. Currently, breakaway congregations are limited to joining another branch of the church or society. "I would have to accuse the people who wrote this of deliberately trying to make this appear to be a noncontroversial matter," said the Reverend Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "In the process, what they're doing is taking a position that helps antigay churches." Mims said the bill had nothing to do with Robinson's consecration and was instead drafted in response to a 2002 federal court ruling that struck down an 18th-century provision in the Virginia constitution prohibiting churches from incorporating. Critics of the bill maintained the legislature has no place involving itself in religious property disputes." If there's one thing we've learned from Senate Bill 1305, it should be this: There's some areas we should just stay away from," said Democratic senator R. Edward Houck of Spotsylvania. (AP)
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
04/30/24
April 30 2024 10:45 PM
Sniffies now has filters for age, body type & endowment
April 30 2024 10:20 PM
Biden admin moves to protect LGBTQ+ kids in foster care
April 30 2024 5:55 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedGifts for your mother and your MOTHER: Celebrating every mom on Mother’s Day
April 30 2024 5:43 PM