Delaware, Ohio—A central Ohio Episcopal priest has resigned his ordination to protest what he calls “pervasive homophobia” coming mostly from the church leadership in the third world.
Former Rev. Paul Nicely issued a written statement July 25 saying, “I no longer in conscience can honor my vow as a priest to be subject to the authority of a church which persists in sanctioning bigotry and exclusion.”
“There’s not much an individual can do,” Nicely said in a later interview. “There’s not much political influence for an individual, but I wanted to be expressive in my views on this.”
Nicely, 80, retired 17 years ago from the faculty of the Methodist Theological School of Ohio in Delaware, where he spent most of his career.
His resignation means he is now only able to preach as laity, and can no longer perform priestly functions.
The resignation does not affect his pension, as that is coming from the seminary, not the church.
But Nicely’s language to church leaders is poignant.
“At my age, having tried for 30 years to educate my little corner of the church about the normalcy of homosexual orientation, and having battled a witless biblical literalism much longer than that, I am unwilling for my church any longer to choose false unity instead of elementary justice,” he wrote.
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Episcopal Priest Resigns over Church’s ‘Pervasive Homophobia’
Tuesday, August 15, 2006 • 8:48 am
15 Comments •
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I read the now former father Nicely’s comments and scratch my head. He’s renouncing his ordination from a body that has fallen over itself to embrace nearly every pagan practice, leftist cause and aberant behavior… because he believes the body to be biggoted? Make my koolaid berryblue please. I couldn’t help but smile at his barb about “witless literalism”. Would he be as placated if his doctor or mechanic departed from witless literalism when it came to installing his brakes or treating a medical condition? (But I digress) Just Grist for your mill. Grace, Peace & Clarity to you all, Andy |
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When a young priest leaves in protest before being vested in the pension fund, this is news. When a middle-aged priest and highly acclaimed preacher leaves church, this too is news. The only amazing thing in this item is that any journalist would consider it newsworthy. It would be equally insignificant if Paul Nicely were an 80-year-old conservative. |
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Just in case anyone thought that this is ONLY about homosexuality… “Other kinds of relationships that they say deserve marriagelike benefits include senior citizens who aren’t married but live together; single-parent families; blended families; “committed, loving households in which there is more than one conjugal partner”; “queer couples who decide to jointly create and raise a child with another queer person or couple, in two households”; and nonsexual cohabiters, such as friends or siblings, the statement said.” |
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Our pensions (once vested) are secure watever we do to cease holding Episcopal orders. and this is another problem that must be resolved in the realigned Anglican province. ONly those people who submit to the discplines of Christ must be able to recieve pensions. Had ECUSA had a Christian attitude about pensions, then it would have been much more possible to not only fire Spong and Bennison and KJS and Beisner before they caused trouble, but given them a much bigger incentive not to do so. The new province must have rules that if you are excommuncated, or deposerd or lose your liscence from a Christian bishop, then you are immediately, permantly and irrevocably fired, and receive no salary and no pension. |
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Sinner, surely this was a Freudian slip, or did you intend this literally? “ONly those people who submit to the discplines of Christ must be able to recieve pensions. “ Well, there go most of TEC bishops and a great many reappraiser clergy, out on the street! |
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Fr Ian, |
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Let me reiterate, in case it’s not clear: For Nicely, gays aren’t welcome enough in the Episcopal Church.