Australian church
may divide over gay clergy stance

Australia's Uniting Church may in fact be dividing--under stress over the issue of gay clergy. In July 2003, Australia's third largest Protestant denomination gave the church's regional bodies the go-ahead to allow gays and lesbians to serve as ministers. After three years of conservative backlash, a proposal made at the church's triennial assembly Thursday would split the Uniting Church in two, with those who refuse to accept gay clergy leaving to form their own branch. That proposal is one of eight being considered by church delegates, ranging from one that would ban gay clergy to one that would make acceptance of gay clergy mandatory. The debate is scheduled to run through Saturday. (Sirius OutQ News)