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SOUTHERN AFRICA: American Episcopal Lesbian Seminary Priest to Preach and Preside at Eucharist
Anglican Province does not allow gay clergy, gay marriages or blessing of same-sex relationships, says disbarred priest
By David W. Virtue DD
www.virtueonline.org
July 22, 2014
The College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, has invited an openly lesbian Episcopal seminary professor from the US Episcopal Church to preach and celebrate the Eucharist at their annual diocesan convocation even though the Anglican Church of Southern Africa “officially” does not allow non-celibate gay clergy, gay marriages, or even the blessing of same-sex relationships.
“I was stunned and shocked to learn this,” a former priest has told VOL. This same priest was unlicensed out of the Anglican Church because of his opposition to the liberalization of the province in matters of faith and morals.
The priest and professor in question is the Rev. Prof. Ruthanna Hooke, Homiletics Professor at Virginia Theological Seminary, based in Alexandria, Virginia. Her partner is Judy Adkins. She was invited by The Rev. Canon N Barney Pityana GCOB, rector who issued the invitation to all clergy in Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth Dioceses and to the Alumni of the College of the Transfiguration, Women in Ministry.
“This invitation goes against the canons and constitution of this province and violates the clear teaching of Scripture that God created male and female and then closed the sexual matrix,” the priest told VOL.
“Now the only college in the province invites this woman to give ‘master classes’ in preaching and to preach and CELEBRATE the Eucharist at the annual shindig for the feast of Transfiguration. Here is a ‘Global South’ province prepared to allow her to TEACH while "standing firm with the South on matters of doctrine.
“I am appalled that the Rev. Pityana can get away with this. Neither her bishop nor the archbishop of the Province Thabo Makgoba have tried to stop this.” The Primate is on record as saying that while he is sensitive both to the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian couples at the same time he affirmed the stance of the wider Anglican Communion, by “not charging ahead and doing our own thing but rather committing ourselves to a process of listening and dialogue on how to move forward.”
Clergy attendees have also been invited to A Day with Prof. Ruthana Hooke – Women in Ministry “Bring-and-Braai” at Belvoir Farm, Sunland, Addo.
The College of the Transfiguration, Grahamstown bills itself as a provincial center for the training of Anglican clergy.
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