Pope Francis calls for flexibility, patience as he opens talks on church teaching

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35. Here is what the Episcopal Church has said about this situation.

as the US representative of the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church has been in a theological conflict with Anglican bishops in Uganda, Nigeria, and Kenya, and some other members of their GAFCON clique, since we elevated an openly gay priest to bishop in 2003.

This is from the head of our church.

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/01/30/presiding-bishop-issues-statement-on-lgbt-rights/

The Episcopal Church has been clear about our expectation that every member of the LGBT community is entitled to the same respect and dignity as any other member of the human family. Our advocacy for oppressed minorities has been vocal and sustained. The current attempts to criminalize LGBT persons and their supporters are the latest in a series, each stage of which has been condemned by this Church, as well as many other religious communities and nations. Our advocacy work continues to build support for the full human rights and dignity of all persons, irrespective of gender, race, national origin, creed, sexual orientation, physical and mental ability or inability. To do less is effectively to repudiate our membership in the human community. No one of God’s children is worth less or more than another; none is to be discriminated against because of the way in which she or he has been created. Our common task is to build a society of justice for all, without which there will never be peace on earth. Episcopalians claim that our part in God’s mission is to love God fully, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. That means all our neighbors.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church