The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles could elect their first openly gay female Bishop in its 114 year history.
After two rounds of voting at the diocese's annual convention did not produce a winner among six candidates to replace the second of two retiring Bishops.
The voting has attracted international attention. If elected the female candidate, would be the first openly gay Episcopal Bishop since a gay Bishop was chosen in New Hampshire in 2003.
After the New Hampshire appointment , dozens of conservative parishes and four dioceses decided to vote to leave the 2.1 million member U.S. denomination and pushed the 77 million member Anglican church to the brink of schism.
What impact the selection of a second gay Bishop will have is not clear? The Episcopal Church is the branch of the Church of England, Anglican church, in the U.S.
The majority of Anglicans outside the U.S. are theological conservatives. Break away traditionalists in the U.S. have formed the Anglican Church of North America as a rival.
Episcopalians have made it clear to the rest of the church's policy- making body, effectively lifted a moratorium on electing another gay bishop. The temporary ban had been requested by Anglican leaders seeking to prevent a permanent break in the communion.
The Los Angeles diocese has 70,000 members and covers six Southern California counties.
Do you require a same sex civil partnership deed and affidavit for your UK Border Agency, Home Office permission to marry in England and Wales? If you do , telephone us for an appointment and we can provide the relevant documentation for you and your partner. Visit http://www.notaryengland.co.uk for further details as to how we can assist.
