The Methodist Church of New Zealand has recently approved the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy . There's plenty of media focus on those religious groups which are anti-gay. Hopefully the picture of Christianity will begin to be modified to reflect the increasing number of churches which are including gay and lesbians into the full life and ministry of the church.

Earlier I had mentioned the Anglican Network, the conservative organization which hopes to kick the Episcopal Church out so it can become the US recognized presence of the Anglican Communion.

A recent piece at Andrew Carey's website points to the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams' encouragement and support in the formation of this new organization, including even proposing name ideas. Is punishment and expulsion of the Episcopal church an already forgone conclusion? It sure is beginning to look like it.

With growing stridency, Muslim liberals are saying that it is high time for Muslims to act, to stop their faith from being hijacked and turned into a cult-like vehicle for a clash of civilisations.

I share the hope that this Economist piece has, that a liberal Islam can reform and modernize the religion. I also think that some social democratic governments in Europe could play a role in this effort. But what I find odd is how the right in this country could embrace such a vision when they usually struggle against such a thing within Christianity.