Religion Briefs
Resolving conflicts in a Biblical context
Conflict resolution from a Biblical perspective will be the subject of a six-hour seminar next weekend offered by the Bible Institute of Hawaii."The I in the Storm" workshop will be presented from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St. Participants will examine their own response to conflict and learn constructive ways to resolve differences in families, churches or workplace.
Registration is required. Call Mary at 943-0833. Cost is $35, with student, military and group discounts available.
Kansas church permits same-sex blessings
TOPEKA, Kan. >> The Episcopal Church's Kansas diocese will allow clerical blessings of homosexual couples and unwed heterosexuals for whom marriage is a financial hardship, Bishop William E. Smalley said this week.Smalley believes Kansas is the first diocese to bless unmarried heterosexuals. With homosexual unions, "others are doing it, but are very quiet about it," he said.
Homosexual clergy and same-sex blessings are the most divisive issues in the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopal Church. International uproar followed a Canadian diocese's June vote to approve same-sex ceremonies.
Smalley said he based his decision on a resolution at the 2000 Episcopal convention that "acknowledged" some Episcopalians live in committed relationships outside wedlock.
A spokeswoman at Episcopal headquarters said the church leaves blessings for unmarried couples up to each diocese.
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