DENVER (CWNews.com)

    The Archdiocese of Denver last month removed itself as a voting member of the interfaith Colorado Council of Churches after the group admitted a homosexual church last month.

    The archdiocese said it had undertaken two years of deliberations on the matter, but added that last month's decision to admit the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Churches, founded by homosexuals who felt excluded by other churches, to the council led to the final result. The archdiocese gave up its voting membership and moved to observer status that will allow it to continue to work with the group, especially its Christian Unity Commission, but will prevent any confusion regarding the Church's teaching on homosexuality.

    The Rev. James Ryan, the council's executive, said Thursday that the council decided to admit the homosexual church because "Christian unity is about inclusion." He added, regarding the Archdiocese of Denver, "They will have a presence and a voice. They will support the work of the council executive, which is basically to build a dialogue around Christian unity."

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