TX: Montrose Episcopal church will offer same-sex blessings

By Kate Shellnutt
Thursday, April 26, 2012

Following the Episcopal Church's likely approval of a liturgy blessing same-sex relationships at its summer convention, a Montrose congregation will be among the first in Texas to offer gay and lesbian couples this rite, the Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle said.

Doyle, bishop of the Texas Diocese, named St. Stephen's Episcopal Church as the first in Houston to be allowed to offer the proposed ceremonies for same-sex couples.

The Episcopal Church has held an ongoing debate regarding gay congregants and clergy for decades and began ordaining openly gay priests in the '90s, a gay bishop in 2003 and a lesbian bishop in 2010, but the issue of homosexuality continues to elicit debate.

"While I long for the day when there will be full marriage equality in the Church and in the State, I consider this a very important step in that process," said the Rev. Lisa Hunt, rector at St. Stephen's, in a letter to parishioners. "St. Stephen's has an opportunity to witness to the action of God in our midst in the lives of couples in our community." the rest