News wrong about Episcopalians:

The front-page headline in last Sunday's Birmingham News misrepresented the actions of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama.

The Convention of the Diocese of Alabama did not, in the headline's discourteous words, "reject gay N.H. bishop." This does not accurately represent the convention's actions. No such statement was made either formally or informally. In a multifaceted resolution adopted by the convention, the words appear "we reject the unilateral actions of the 74th General Convention on issues of human sexuality."

This is quite different from rejecting a person or a bishop of this church. The resolution expresses disagreement, especially with the unilateral nature of some of the convention's actions in the controversial area of human sexuality. Yet it also affirms our Anglican/Episcopal loyalties and it concludes, "We celebrate and embrace God's unconditional love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation; and following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, we desire to be a church where all God's people experience grace, welcome and transformation."

The Episcopal Church is a church that strives to live not by rejecting people but by treating all with God's love and mercy.

+ Henry N. Parsley Jr.

Bishop of Alabama