Openly Gay Man Is Made a Bishop By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: November 3, 2003
URHAM, N.H., Nov. 2 — With the ceremonial laying on of hands by a cluster of bishops, the Rev. V. Gene Robinson was consecrated the next bishop of New Hampshire and the first openly gay prelate in the Episcopal Church U.S.A. on Sunday, laying the groundwork for a split in the American church and a break with fellow Anglican churches abroad.
In a ceremony both solemn and celebratory, Bishop Robinson accepted his bishop's stole and chasuble from his parents, the gold miter for his head from his two daughters and his partner, and his shepherd's crook from his predecessor, Bishop Douglas E. Theuner of New Hampshire.
The nearly 4,000 people in an arena at the University of New Hampshire rose to their feet, applauding, cheering and whistling. After Bishop Robinson quieted them, he said, "It's not about me; it's about so many other people who find themselves at the margins."
Addressing the crowd, he said, "Your presence here is a welcome sign for those people to be brought into the center."
The consecration went ahead despite warnings from the primates who lead Anglican churches in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America that a gay bishop would not be recognized in their churches, and would prompt them to break ties — as soon as Monday — with their American affiliate, the Episcopal Church U.S.A.
The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, released a statement on Sunday night that acknowledged the Americans' right to choose their own bishops but also lamented the Americans' disregard for the objections of their more conservative church cousins in other parts of the world.
"The divisions that are arising are a matter of deep regret; they will be all too visible in the fact that it will not be possible for Gene Robinson's ministry as a bishop to be accepted in every province in the communion," the archbishop said in his statement. "It is clear that those who have consecrated Gene Robinson have acted in good faith on their understanding of what the constitution of the American church permits. But the effects of this upon the ministry and witness of the overwhelming majority of Anglicans particularly in the non-Western world have to be confronted with honesty."
The controversy over homosexuality has sharpened a long-brewing power struggle between the more established branches of the Anglican Communion, which include the Church of England and the Episcopal Church U.S.A., and what were once the mission churches in the developing world. The Anglican Communion includes about 70 million members throughout the world, only about 2.3 million of them American. The church in Nigeria, with about 17 million members, has helped lead the objections to a gay bishop.
Nevertheless, the consecration was a vindicating moment for many Episcopalians who have long hoped the church would formally acknowledge the many gay men and lesbians who are priests, deacons and laypeople.
Stephanie Spellers, who attended the consecration with a group of fellow students from the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., said: "Especially for me as an African-American, I am pretty sensitive to people saying you don't have a place in the church. God makes holy what people shove away, and I'm here just to celebrate that."
But for many others, the consecration will be remembered as a painful moment in which their church decided to endorse sin. At an appointed moment during the ceremony, the crowd was asked if there were any objections to Bishop Robinson's installation. A laywoman from New Hampshire, a priest from Pittsburgh and a bishop from Albany stepped to the microphone one by one.
The priest, the Rev. F. Earle Fox, read an explicit list of what he said were the sexual practices of gay men, but was interrupted by the official leading the consecration, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold of the Episcopal Church. Proceeding with his speech, Father Fox concluded that people who are "made in God's loving image would not engage in or bless or consecrate such behavior."
Posted by Mark IXZD 150 (Member # 235) on :
That's the outwardly gay bishop who is willing to divide the Church to fulfill his own selfish gains. Its all over the news. Just wondering if anyone else out there thinks he should just back down for the sake of the greater cause. It just irks me that he's willing to divide his flock over something so outrageous. I have no problems with his being gay. I just question why he wouldn't just say he'll give up the homo sex. We can't have Bishops performing sodomy! Oh, the horror... Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
Just ashame these things have to happen, espcially in a church! (born & raised catholic). I guess there's "corruption" everything including in the churchs. Posted by Mark IXZD 150 (Member # 235) on :
quote:Originally posted by DanPazich: Just ashame these things have to happen, espcially in a church! (born & raised catholic). I guess there's "corruption" everything including in the churchs.
This isn't really corruption of any kind. It's just a very bad decision by him and by many in the Episcopal faith, that they would favor 'political correctness' and a liberal viewpoint over the fundamental teachings of a Church that whose history spans 2000 years and is very clear about behavior that is acceptable and uacceptable in the eye's of God, not the people who seem to think it's their right to interpret it in their ways just because they hold a vote. It just diminishes the whole religion and its sad to see it happen.
Posted by DanPazich (Member # 1352) on :
couldnt' think of the right word, instead of corruption, bad choice of words, but i agree with ya. It was a bad decision on both his part and the people higher up who chose him. It's just wrong and goes against everything the church belevies...ah well. Tis the 21st century Posted by Jim Mac (Member # 113) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mark IXZD 150: Is it just me or is this guy putting his own personal aspirations above a much greater cause?
The word 'selfish' comes to mind...
I understand that he enjoys the phallic nature of that hat.
Posted by TimeLord (Member # 1389) on :
Look at the Catholic church,none of the priest are homosexuals[the church doesn't allow it]but a great percentage of them are pedophiles?? What is the difference,at least this bozo admits the truth.
Either way it sucks!!!
Posted by cytruffle (Member # 1733) on :
quote:Originally posted by TimeLord: Either way it sucks!!!
.....resisting the urge to make a funny......
Posted by Mark IXZD 150 (Member # 235) on :
quote:Originally posted by TimeLord: Look at the Catholic church,none of the priest are homosexuals[the church doesn't allow it]but a great percentage of them are pedophiles?? What is the difference,at least this bozo admits the truth.
Either way it sucks!!!
IMO, that's because of the whole celobacy issue which the Catholic Church adpoted unnecessarily. Historically, it was not and is still not required of priests in the early Christian Church (Orthodox Christianity) which is where Catholocism came from after the split in the seventh century or so. The celobacy attracts a lot of people who are in fact gay and don't want to live the lifestyle but just can't seem to conquer their demons when the easy victims are around (boys). In the Orthodox Church, Priests are required to be married before they are ordained. I believe that it's for that reason that we (Orthodox) don't have the problems of the Catholic Church and the pedofiles. Priests are allowed to have wives and families. There's nothing in the teachings of the Church that say you can't be married or have a family AND be a priest. Nothing.
Anyway, I digress... Basically, yea it sucks.
Posted by Fbodfather (Member # 1119) on :
hmmmm...this subject has been bothering me for a long time.
I guess what bothers me more is the righteousness of some church leaders.
Seems to me the last perfect person on this earth was stoned to death.
I guess it comes down to beliefs. I've never been one to believe in "hellfire and brimstone."
I DO know this...the church tried to run the world for a long time. How do you make people follow? Put the fear of God into them!
Perhaps that's why I guess I feel my relationship with my maker is between my maker and me. I really get upset at the hipocrisy within most churches and religions. I would bet you dollars to donuts that SOME of the the various people in that church whom are up in arms include wife beaters, child abusers, adulterers, murderers, embezzlers, and God only knows what else..........
SO.........I guess I'm not gonna lose sleep over the fact that there's a gay person as a bishop in that church.
Little story: My uncle belonged to a Presbyterian church in Pittsburgh. There was a lady who was a member of his church for over 40 years...worked tirelessly for the church. (deacon, on the session, the building committee, you name it, she did it. When something needed done, she was the first in line. Well.....someone got wind that she was a lesbian. It was like the woman suddenly had leprosy......and people shunned her. Now...I ask you...is this what the church teaches????
Just my 2 cents...........
Posted by Hawkeye (Member # 88) on :
Love thy neighbor Oh wait a minute, that's not a sin - is it?
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Oh wait a minute, that's