SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – At least 21 out of 173 regional bodies in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have petitioned a June legislative assembly to repeal a church law that bars clergy and lay officeholders living in relationships outside heterosexual marriage.

The tally was reported by the San Francisco-based Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which has long advocated repealing the law.

The bills ignore a special task force’s plea against making changes this year to help keep the church unified in the face of divisions over the role of gays and lesbians in the denomination.

The regional units, called “presbyteries,” that are calling for repeal of the ban are in 15 states and cover such major cities as Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis and New York.

A typical bill, from the unit based in Kansas City, Mo., said the sexual law contradicts principles of love, freedom, equality, “inclusive welcome” and “the right to respond to God’s call.” A change in church law requires balloting in all presbyteries, a process conservatives have won three times on the same issue.

Besides the proposed church law change, some presbyteries have petitioned to overturn past assemblies’ official interpretations of policy upholding traditional sexual morals; that step needs only approval by the June assembly.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Two openly gay priests are candidates to become bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California, and the election of either would worsen the rift over homosexuality in the bitterly divided church.

The Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago and the Very Rev. Robert Taylor of Seattle – both of whom have longtime same-sex partners – are among the five candidates.

In 2004, an emergency panel of the global Anglican Communion, which includes the U.S. Episcopal Church, asked for a moratorium on installing bishops in same-sex relationships. The request came after the Rev. Gene Robinson, who has a longtime male partner, was consecrated bishop of New Hampshire in 2003.

“There’s nothing really the Anglican Communion can do to us. But they can say they’re no longer in communion with us,” said Sean McConnell, spokesperson for the Diocese of California.

The Anglican Communion, which lacks a governing body like the Vatican for Roman Catholics, encompasses 77 million people in 38 provinces in 164 countries. Each province is self-governing.

The American Anglican Council, which advocates on behalf of traditionalists who have formed a separate network of dissenting churches, posted a strongly worded letter on its Web site opposing the two openly gay nominees. Conservatives believe the Bible bans gay and lesbian relationships.

“If the Episcopal Church had any intention of repentance, candidates would clearly adhere to the authority of Scripture, affirm the apostolic faith, and commit to the immediate cessation of ordination/consecration of noncelibate homosexuals as well as the blessings of same-sex unions,” the letter said.

Leaders of the Episcopal Church have apologized for the divisions caused by Robinson’s elevation to bishop, but they have not expressed regret over his election.

Canon David Anderson, the group’s president and chief executive, said American church leaders who tolerate and accept same-sex relationships “need to repent. Stop. Think about it. Come to a different conclusion and be sorry for what they did.”

The Rev. Paul Zahl, the dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., said if Perry or Taylor is chosen as the new bishop, it’s a “definitive thumbing of the nose at the worldwide church.”

He said hundreds of the 2.3 million Episcopalians already left the church after Robinson was consecrated and “for those who are still hanging in there, this election would be the final straw. That’s no judgment on the individuals, but on the principle.”

The other three candidates for the job are the Rt. Rev. Mark Handley Andrus, bishop suffragan in the Diocese of Alabama; the Rev. Jane Gould, rector of St. Stephen’s Church, Lynn, Mass.; and the Rev. Canon Eugene Taylor Sutton, canon pastor of Washington National Cathedral.

The election to replace the Rev. William Swing, the country’s longest-serving bishop who’s retiring in October, is scheduled for May 6 in San Francisco.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – A House Republican leader said he would consider lifting or modifying the state’s 30-year-old ban on adoption by gays and lesbians, but only if the Senate takes similar action.

Rep. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, said he would schedule a vote on a bill allowing gay and lesbian foster parents to adopt children already in their care, but only if companion legislation resurfaces in the Senate, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. Galvano chairs the House’s Future of Florida’s Families Committee.

Florida is the only state with an outright ban on adoption by gays and lesbians, while Mississippi and Utah have laws that restrict it. Mississippi bans same-sex couples, but not gays and lesbians who are single, from adopting, and Utah requires adopting parents to be married.

Sen. Nan Rich, D-Sunrise, introduced a similar bill last month, but postponed the legislation indefinitely hours later when it became clear it would not survive its first committee vote.

Rich is still working with the foster parents and children’s advocates who testified at that meeting to convince lawmakers to reconsider, she said.

Meanwhile, Galvano said he will not put similar legislation introduced in the House on his committee’s agenda until the Senate bill gets stronger.

“I think the Senate hearing helped flush out the issue a bit, but it’s also an indication of how the bill is going to fare,” he said. “If the bill should come back and start moving in the Senate, then you’re looking at a bill that really has a life.”

Rep. Sheri McInvale, R-Orlando, said she understands Galvano’s decision and is working behind the scenes to get the support that will make a House hearing worthwhile.

Rich said she wants the House to move on the bill without waiting for further Senate action.

“I feel the Senate has taken the first step, and the House needs to move ahead and take a first step there,” she said.

The bill, which supporters said eliminates inconsistency in Florida’s adoption policy and increases the number of homes available to children, will progress in small but significant steps, Rich said.

Moving the bill out of a first committee would be a satisfactory finish line this year, Rich said.

“Sometimes it takes several years for a good, new or controversial idea to move forward,” she said. “This bill is not dead.”

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) – Lake Pend Oreille School District officials have refused to disband the Gay-Straight Alliance club at Sandpoint High School, drawing the ire of some members of this northern Idaho community.

“Your message is loud and clear,” Sandpoint attorney Edgar Steele told district officials at a board meeting. “It’s ‘shut up and eat your porridge.’ But I’m speaking out against this because approving it sends the wrong message to our kids. It’s another chink in the armor.”

The Bonner County Daily Bee reported that the majority of people who attended the meeting supported the Gay-Straight Alliance club. Many wore “Friends of GSA” stickers.

One man said that if a GSA club had existed when he was a teenager it might have stopped him from making a suicide attempt while confronting his homosexuality.

The club is one of 23 student clubs at Sandpoint High School. Unlike the others, it was approved after an extensive review by Principal Jim Soper.

“GSA has gone through a more extraordinary procedure because I saw it as being a very emotional issue,” Soper said at the meeting.

He said he could have disbanded GSA and all the other clubs, but decided it would be better to keep them.

“I felt it was in the best interests for the kids and the school to let them stand, and that GSA was a good place for kids to discuss various gender-related issues,” Soper said.

Some wanted all the clubs banned if that meant an end to GSA.

“My comments are not made by fear, because I’ve taught my kids that we treat all people equally and with respect,” said Sandpoint lawyer and Boundary County Deputy Prosecutor Tevis Hull. “Take that extraordinary step and do away with all 22 clubs. It may seem radical, but it’s for the best interest for this school.”

WASHINGTON (AP) – Discharging troops under the Pentagon’s policy on gays, lesbians and bisexuals has cost $363.8 million over 10 years, almost double what the government concluded a year ago, a private report says.

The report by a University of California Blue Ribbon Commission questioned the methodology the Government Accountability Office used when it estimated that the financial impact of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was at least $190.5 million.

“It builds on the previous findings and paints a more complete picture of the costs,” said Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., who has proposed legislation that would repeal the policy.

Cautioning that the figures may be too low, the GAO said the federal government spent at least $95.4 million to recruit and $95.1 million to train replacements from 1994 through 2003 for the 9,488 troops discharged during that period because of the policy.

The university study said the GAO erred by emphasizing the expense of replacing those who were discharged because of the policy without taking into account the value the military lost from the departures.

So, the commission focused on the estimated value the military lost from each person discharged. The report detailed costs of $79.3 million for recruiting enlisted service members, $252.4 million for training them, $17.8 million for training officers and $14.3 million for “separation travel” once a service member is discharged.