LONG BEACH, Calif. — Seven years after the Episcopal Church caused an uproar by consecrating its first gay bishop, it has done the same thing again — only this time with a woman.
The Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool of Baltimore was ordained and consecrated on Saturday, making her the second openly gay bishop in church history and one of the first two female bishops in the Diocese of Los Angeles’ 114-year history.
The ceremony was at Long Beach Arena before 3,000 people, who burst into applause at the end, church spokesman Bob Williams said.
The Rev. Canon Diane M. Jardine Bruce, of San Clemente, Calif., also was ordained Saturday.
The two women were elected last December to serve as assistant bishops in the diocese’s six-county territory but conservative Episcopalians had urged the church not to ordain Glasspool. The decision to do so highlights a continued Episcopal commitment to accepting same- sex relationships despite enormous pressure from other Anglicans.
The Episcopal Church, which is the Anglican body in the United States, caused turmoil in the church in 2003 by consecrating the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
Breakaway Episcopal conservatives have formed a rival church, the Anglican Church in North America.
