Posted on 01/29/2005 7:34:49 AM PST by schaketo
Gay Anglican bishop gets fervid reception Robinson has been on roller coaster ride since election
Three days after the Rev. V. Gene Robinson won confirmation as the first openly gay bishop in the global Anglican Communion, he received a note from an 18-year-old inmate at New Hampshire State Prison for Women.
"I'm neither gay nor Christian, particularly," she wrote. "But your election makes me believe that there might be a community out there who can love me."
Robinson has been repeating that story during his first trip to California since he was consecrated bishop of New Hampshire in 2003, reflecting on his highly visible position and talking about reclaiming moral values from the religious right.
His elevation to bishop has shaken and divided the Anglican Communion -- a church report issued in October even recommended a moratorium on gay bishops. But in the Bay Area, as Robinson has traveled from lecture to service to workshop, he has been greeted with untempered enthusiasm.
At a recent fund-raiser for the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, the crowd stood and cheered continuously. Finally, Robinson raised his hands to say, OK, OK, enough.
"Anyone who has lived a marginalized existence has to rejoice when a marginalized person gets recognition in his field or endeavor," said Ignacio Castuera, a pastor at St. John's United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, who traveled to San Francisco to hear the bishop's talk. "It should not be a gay thing. It's for everyone."
Robinson, 58, spoke that evening about the emotional roller coaster of the last 18 months. He talked about the last-minute accusations that briefly held up his election, the death threats, the bullet-proof vest he strapped on for his consecration
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Not one mention of Jesus or God or His incredible saving grace in this article.....This speaks volumes for what Robinson believes. He is leading his flock astray....and I HEAVY price will be paid.
So what has he done to gain this recognition. He is queer and the crazies made him a Bishop. Big Deal. The man is a pervert.
"Anyone who has lived a marginalized existence has to rejoice when a marginalized person gets recognition in his field or endeavor,"
By all means, let's take those at the margins, on the fringes, from waaaaaay out in left field, let's take THEM and annoint them as our leaders.
Sounds like a plan!
Perhaps some of these people are 'Marginalized' for a reason. This isn't about the Church or religion in general. It's about exaltation of a lifestyle and enforcement of a narrow groups agenda of mainstreaming that lifestyle. Post #3 sums it up well.
Well, that's a sure recipe for success. Alienate the believing Christians in your church in an attempt to get non-Christian criminals to join up.
I have to ask because I have absolutely no desire to go around talking publicly about my sex life and I cannot understand those who do.
This is probably the "go-to" preacher for the pro-homo church-leader quotes out in Kalifornia.
Reverend Dr. Ignacio Castuera National Chaplain of Planned Parenthood
The Reverend Dr. Ignacio Castuera is the first National Chaplain for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and currently also serves at St. John's United Methodist Church in the Watts area of Los Angeles.
Rev. Dr. Castuera is a graduate of the School of Theology at Claremont University, where he studied and wrote about the problems of violence and the patriarchal worship of a mother goddess in Mexican culture. After completing his education, Rev. Dr. Castuera served at churches in Mexico, as well as in Hawaii and California. He was elected to three Jurisdictional Conferences and to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1984. He has served on the National Council of Churches Faith and Order Commission and on other boards and task forces as a representative of his denomination.
Rev. Dr. Castuera was also the first Mexican-American district superintendent of the United Methodist Church in the Los Angeles District and went on to become the pastor of Hollywood United Methodist Church. Over his 11 years at Hollywood United Methodist he transformed the church into a center of the growing movement aimed at creating a positive religious response to the AIDS pandemic. Gigantic red ribbons on the tower of the Hollywood United Methodist Church still proclaim its commitment to ministering to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
An accomplished preacher and author, Rev. Dr. Castuera has edited a collection of sermons culled from those given on the Sunday after the infamous Rodney King riots. The book, Dreams on Fire: Embers of Hope: From the Pulpits of Los Angeles After the Riots, became one of the top 10 religious books of 1992. He has preached in a variety of venues, including The Protestant Hour. Several of his sermons are available online and in print. In May 2004, he was invited to preach at The Riverside Church in New York City, where he received enthusiastic acclaim. That sermon is available upon request from The Riverside Church. In November 2004, Dr. Castuera served as the Jameson Jones Preacher in the Prophetic Tradition at the Iliff School of Theology. Beyond his professional duties, Rev. Dr. Castuera is the proud father of three daughters and one son, ranging in age from 10 to 30, and loves to read, sing, and play tennis.
>> "Robinson ... talking about reclaiming moral values from the religious right." <<
Hoo boy. Robinson sure is a great poster boy for the left to try and "reclaim" moral values from the right.
WTF does that mean, except to try to "re-define" moral values.
"But your election makes me believe that there might be a community out there who can love me."
There already is, but you all want us to love your sin.
No mention of why you're in prison. Wake up! Satan and his followers don't love you, they love death!
Jesus says that the Good Shepherd will leave the ninety-nine sheep in his flock to go after the one sheep that has gone astray. But when he finds it, he carries it back home with him. He doesn't go wandering off into the wilderness with it, abandoning the ninety-nine.
In other words, this jailed young woman who calls herself neither Christian nor gay may conceivably feel the stirrings of grace, but it won't help her to follow after a false prophet and shepherd like Bishop Gene Robinson.
Pity. I was an Anglican all my life but converted to Catholicism in college. I take no pleasure in seeing the Church that gave me much good instruction before I left it in these sorry straits. I left because I could no longer believe that the Episcopal Church was, as the creed it taught me claims, the "one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church." But many of its members are sincere Christians by their own lights. They deserve better than this.
Oh, absolutely! This, plus what the French call epater le bourgeois* "to shock the (despised) middle class".
*ay-PAT-ay le BOOR-jwa
The only way letting another man put his sexual organ up your rectum can be seen as moral, is to redefine moral values.
Whoops. I read "fetid reception" instead of "fervid reception."
"Wake up! Satan and his followers don't love you, they love death!"
AMEN! His "love" is a liar.
Happily for you..you missed this. I, OTOH<, have the sad duty to inform you of its existence..
fer·vid ( P ) Pronunciation Key (fûrvd)
adj.
Marked by great passion or zeal: a fervid patriot.
Extremely hot; burning.
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