As noted earlier in the ChristianityToday.com Weblog, B. Clayton Bell Sr., Presbyterian leader and chair of the board of Christianity Today International (our parent company), died in his sleep Wednesday morning at age 67. Obituaries appeared Thursday in The Dallas Morning News, the Associated Press, and Presbyterian News Service. Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, where Bell pastored until his retirement in January, also has an announcement of his passing. We will be offering our own obituary and reminisces about Bell's legacy soon.

One week after the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) voted to ban same-sex union ceremonies, the Episcopal Church is facing the same issue at its General Convention. But according it may codify its de facto policy of allowing individual dioceses to settle whether it will perform such unions or ordain gays to ministry. "I've heard innumerable comments that the local option is what we have, and a resolution that says 'yes' or 'no' to that is destructive," says lay delegate Marge Christie. Both conservative and homosexual activists are pushing for the denomination to take a more concrete stance on the issues. The Washington Timesnotes that when asked his opinion of a proposal that would condemn the "sins of heterosexism," such as male-female "marriage," Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold "explained somberly that the proposal was under review and that he would 'await the committee's discernment.'" The Episcopal Church is also expected to ratify an alliance with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

While the Episcopalians ...