Gay Episcopal bishop begins his ministry

AP | 11/09/03 | KATHARINE WEBSTER

[kattracks]

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. (AP) — The Rev. V. Gene Robinson began his ministry as the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop on Sunday by saying he wants to bring the message of God's love to "those on the margins."

He also said the church should speak out on issues of social justice, including the lack of access to health care for many Americans.

"How dare we in this country spend $87 billion on war when 44 million people have no health insurance?" he said in his sermon. "It's up to the church to lead on some of these moral issues."

After the service at All Saints Church, where he was married to his former wife, Robinson said he hopes that people who disagree with his confirmation will remain within the Episcopal Church, instead of breaking away.

"A church founded on unhappiness and anger is not going to go very far," he said.

New Hampshire's Episcopalians elected Robinson as bishop in June, and his selection was approved at the convention of the Episcopal Church USA in August. But his consecration a week ago has threatened to divide the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of Anglicanism.

On Nov. 3, overseas bishops who said they represented 50 million of the world's 77 million Anglicans jointly announced they were in a "state of impaired communion" with the Episcopal Church — a step short of declaring a full schism.

In addition, conservatives within the U.S. church have asked the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, to authorize a separate Anglican province for them in North America.

In his sermon, Robinson said Jesus spent most of his time with women, taxpayers and foreigners, not with the rabbis and wealthy members of the temple.

Jesus "looked at the religious establishment of his day and realized they had closed their eyes to those on the margins," he said.

"Think of all the kinds of blindness right outside this door: not seeing people in need, or turning the other way when we do," he said.

Robinson told a story about three American soldiers in World War I whose fellow soldier was killed in combat, then was buried just outside the fence of a French churchyard because the priest didn't know whether the soldier had been baptized. When the Americans returned to pay their respects, they couldn't find his grave outside the fence.

The priest explained to them, "I realized I'd followed the rules, but I hadn't done the right thing — so I moved the fence," Robinson said.

"You and I in Jesus' name are called to move the fence ... as far away from us as possible," Robinson said.

At a reception for the bishop following the service, churchgoer Jack Jones said he was "all for" Robinson.

"He's a real brave man, and intelligent, and if people don't want to come to church for him, let them go somewhere else," said Jones, 64.

Elsewhere in the state, about half the members of the Episcopal parish in Rochester walked out of Sunday services to protest the dismissal of their interim minister, who opposes Robinson's appointment.

Bishop Douglas Theuner of the Diocese of New Hampshire removed the Rev. Donald Wilson on Friday for insubordination when Wilson refused to come to Concord to meet with Theuner on the matter. Robinson will automatically succeed Theuner when the bishop retires next year.

Lisa Ball, a member of the group that left, said the protest has nothing to do with homophobia, and "it has nothing to do with gay bashing."

Theuner "decided to take our priest away from us and didn't even ask us," Ball said.

David Tyler, the junior warden of the church and one of those who remained inside, said the parish "has a disagreement. We are trying to work this out."

[F16Fighter]

It's only a matter of time before the gay-wing of this Espiscopal Church inverts all the crosses and paints them rainbow.

[GrandMoM]

BTTT

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

"How dare we in this country spend $87 billion on war when 44 million people have no health insurance?" he said in his sermon. "It's up to the church to lead on some of these moral issues."

Is he wearing his bishop's hat or his liberal hat? How many of the uninsured have chosen to be so?

[JimVT]

As a former Chamber exec myself...I have found that communications to the business community in an area can usually generate action if it hits their pocketbooks.

Peterborough, NH is a travel destination (I have spent some time in the area myself)

Maybe some expressions of concern that folks don't want to visit an area that promotes homosexuality might get the business community involved in this issue!

Contact the Chamber of Commerce here

chamber

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

So whats next, requiring the priest to sodomize 8 year old boys as part of communion? There is no sin, only love......Go NAMBLA!

"Come here, my young son. Let me show you MY wafer..."

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Wow. The Black Establishment must looooooooooove Jesse Lee Peterson...

[ahadams2]

You wrote "Speaking of wasting money, how much is the Diocese of NH spending for the care & feeding of this pervert?"

Excellent Question! I am attempting to find out even as we speak...however you'd be amazed at how touchy some folks get when you start talking about salaries, allowances, and so on - it may take a few days, but I promise I'll keep digging.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

'Splain this, please. Are you talking about the general Episcopalian founding?

[ahadams2]

You wrote "As I have repeatedly said, Robinson and his cohorts are out to get the Episopalian money and proprty, and use it for left-wing causes."

You are absolutely correct. oh - and they also want what's left of the tattered remnant of Episcopal influence and reputation which they've done so much to destroy....

[Humidston]

That was sooo good! ;-)

[A. Pole]

he wants to bring the message of God's love to "those on the margins."

He wants to bring message of hope, repentce and chastity?

[JimVT]

great home page!

see my note at #46

[mathurine]

Just change the name to MISplaced PETERSborough, which will make it a travel destination par extraordinaire for the funny fellows, religiously oriented or more profain.

[ladylib]

"A church founded on unhappiness and anger is not going to go very far," he said."

That's what he thinks. I would think that for many, it would be a blessed relief to start a new church.

Just an awful situation for the faithful.

[A. Pole]

So whats next, requiring the priest to sodomize 8 year old boys as part of communion? There is no sin, only love......Go NAMBLA!

A sign of things to come?

" Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. [...] For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
And then shall that Wicked be revealed [...]" (2Thes:2:3-4,7-8)

[ahadams2]

You wrote "great home page!"

Thanks but if you're talking about the one in my tagline -

Anglican Freeper Resource Page
http://eala.freeservers.com/anglican/

That's actually the work of Eala - all I did was make a
few suggestions, oh and keep it in my tagline so people know how to find it.

As far as dealing with the Chamber of Commerce in NH, let me sound some folks out on this one - I'm not entirely certain it would have the desired effect since the wacko episcopal diocese of NH may just run around screaming persecution and do nothing to change their ways.

hmm....

[Twinkie]

The publicans & sinners in Jesus' time were up front
about what they were. The religious establishment of
his time hid all sorts of sins behind their religious
robes. That's why Christ could deliver the publicans &
sinners & not the religious establishment. I wonder if
anything has changed in all this time.

[Archie Bunker on steroids]

I wonder if the passage of the day was from Romans 1?