Gay clergyman leading candidate for Episcopal bishop

Sac Bee ^ | 6/6/03 | Anne Saunders - AP

[NormsRevenge]

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - With a leading candidate who's a gay man, the selection of a new Episcopal bishop for New Hampshire could send worldwide tremors through a denomination divided about homosexuality.

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. member of the world Anglican Communion, has never elected a bishop who lives openly with a same-sex partner, but the candidacy of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson could change that.

[NormsRevenge]

A man of God should be haPPy, No? But gay? errr... :-\

Before anyone flames me for not being tolerant, I was an altar boy in my local Episcopal church.

The 2 Reverends I served with were both good family men, one could drink a sailor under the table, the other was a crusty old fellow who led by example.

Years later, I remember hearing my Dad talk about the new minister they were had at the same church. She was a nice lady, but she was gay.

I know it offended many in the church congregation, some left, eventually the minister moved on and today a straight man is the minister.

To me, God had a design for this world, but somehow, scripturally, I don't think it would continence a gay Bishop.

[Reagan79]

Fortunately we know Christ will sort out this heretical nonsense when he returns. Until then keep the faith and keep up the fight!

[Eala]

Before anyone flames me for not being tolerant, I was an altar boy in my local Episcopal church.

Born, baptized, confirmed in the Episcopal church, served as altar boy, lay reader, chalice bearer, sexton, verger, vestryman, diocesan delegate... it came to an end two decades ago when I could take it no longer and became an Anglican. And in three weeks my father becomes an Anglican minister.

[y2k_free_radical]

No need to apologize.I agree.Gay ministers are along the same lines as those who do not believe in CHRIST's divinity or even that there is a GOD.A total sham.I can't believe any church won't except such.Church is not a social club.We are progressing the way of EUROPE-THE REALLY DARK CONTINENT,spiritually speaking.

[TheWillardHotel]

Lev 18:22
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.

Does this "Bishop" read the Bible?

[bobg]

THIS KIND OF STUFF IS ONE OF MANY REASONS MY FAMILY LEFT THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
ONE PASTOR SAID, IN AN ADULT CLASS, "THE BIBLE IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD, BUT A HISTORY OF MAN'S EFFORTS TO FIND GOD".

WHEN MY SON WAS CONFIRMED AT 12 HE CAME HOME DEJECTED. HE SAID HE WAS THE ONLY KID OF ABOUT TEN THAT REALLLY BELIEVED. THEY WERE JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE UNITARIANS...ANYTHING YOU BELIEVE SINCERELY IS OK....

[LiteKeeper]

2 Timothy 3:1-7

1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer [Grk: episcopas = bishop], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

[stranger and pilgrim]

I believe the Bible specifies the qualifications for a bishop. Among them:

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;" (1Tim 3:2)

[LiteKeeper]

The other candidates are the Rev. Pamela Jane Mott of Portland, Ore., and two supervisors of groups of parishes in Pennsylvania, the Very Revs. Robert L. Tate and Ruth Lawson Kirk. Another candidate withdrew after being selected bishop of Nebraska.

See my post #7 - husband of one wife disqualifies two of the other three candidates!

[tellw]

1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer [Grk: episcopas = bishop], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife...

Doesn't this fly in the face of the celibate priesthood mandated by the Roman Catholic Church?

[mlmr]

He won't be the first.

[Servant of the Nine]

Episcopal Barf Alert PING

So9

[trad_anglican]

O gracious Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldest be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

[Califcon]

Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

[MEGoody]

Sure glad I'm not a member of the Episcopal church.

If they have openly gay men as priests, then having them as bishops wouldn't seem like a biggie.

[LurkedLongEnough]

Well, at least he's probably not an Islamic terrorist.

[stranger and pilgrim]

<> Not any more than this: " Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats . . ." (1Tim 4:11-3)

[TheWillardHotel]

Many of those issues were addressed in Galatians.

I am sure a reasonable person can be flexible with hair, nails, and such. ( Maybe you differ ) But Christianity has for centuries censured homosexuality.

[stranger and pilgrim]

Also, I don't believe the penalty for trimming one's hair under the Moses Law was death.