The Reverend Dr. Robert Certain, who gave the homily at the funeral for Gerald R. Ford at the National Cathedral on Tuesday, said when he told the former president that he was headed for an Episcopal convocation, “He asked me if we would face schism after we discussed the various issues we would consider, particularly concerns about human sexuality and the leadership of women
By: ANDY HUMM | The Reverend Dr. Robert Certain, who gave the homily at the funeral for Gerald R. Ford at the National Cathedral on Tuesday, said when he told the former president that he was headed for an Episcopal convocation, “He asked me if we would face schism after we discussed the various issues we would consider, particularly concerns about human sexuality and the leadership of women. He said he did not think they should be divisive for anyone who lived by the great commandments and the great commission to love God and to love neighbor.”
The worldwide Anglican Communion has begun to splinter over the acceptance of gay people, particularly the U.S. Episcopal Church's 2003 consecration of the Right Reverend Gene Robinson, an out gay man with a partner, as bishop of New Hampshire.
Ford was an Episcopalian and Certain was his pastor at St. Margaret's Church in Palm Desert, California.
Former President Jimmy Carter, later eulogizing Ford in Michigan, also made reference to their mutual concern over the split among religious people on issues of “sexual preference” that he said they both believed should not be central.
