Last week, Archdeacon Gordon Linney, a senior figure in the Church of Ireland, said in a speech the State should give legal recognition to gay civil unions. However, in an apparent side-swipe at the Catholic Church, he also said: "I have to ask how people who are so certain about homosexuality being evil could have been so indifferent and even devious when it comes to facing up to the issue of child abuse?"

An action of this sort, designed to break down the community of faith, has no place in our polity. No one group can define for the whole Church what constitutes an "emergency." The laity and the clergy of the Diocese of Ohio, meeting in convention last November, clearly articulated their support of an inclusive theology in the larger Church, and their affirmation of its actions in last summer's General Convention.

The OGA's March 8 statement concludes that the Presbyterian Church (USA)
"has demonstrated a historic commitment both to the sanctity of marriage
between a man and a woman and to human and civil rights for all persons."

The full text of the OGA document:

1. Has the General Assembly defined marriage?

Local diocesan bishops, or those bishops they designate, preside over confirmation for churches in their jurisdiction. In the Anglican tradition, the Service of Confirmation represents “a mature public affirmation of faith and commitment to the responsibilities of baptism.” However, these congregations consider their relationship with the Rt. Rev. Clark Grew, Bishop of Ohio, to be “impaired” due to his support of divisive decisions at ECUSA’s General Convention last summer.