Memphis Bishop (Don Johnson) tearfully apologizes to homosexual members of church

AP ^ | August 11, 2003 | AP Staff writer

[new cruelty]

Memphis Episcopal Bishop Don Johnson has apologized to gay and lesbian members of the West Tennessee diocese as he explained his vote against the denomination's first openly gay bishop.

At a meeting last night at Grace-St. Luke's, Johnson stood crying and said in voting against the election of V. Gene Robinson, he didn't mean to reject gay members of the church.

Johnson was among 43 bishops who voted against the election of Robinson to lead the New Hampshire diocese. They were the minority.

Johnson says he voted "no" because the church hadn't done the theological study needed for it and because the worldwide Anglican Communion will be strained by it.

Most people who came to listen chose not to comment, saying they hadn't yet decided the issue for themselves or weren't comfortable talking about their feelings.

Those who did comment generally upheld the denomination's decision.

Justin Tisdale listened to Johnson, then said Robinson's sexual orientation should make no difference in his church leadership role.

[lawgirl]

Do we have any info on how many people have already or are presently leaving the church over this? I will be interested to see the denomination's numbers in a year or two.

[new cruelty]

From what I have read, currently, the Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.

[Paul Atreides]

He should have had the everlovin' snot slapped out of him.

[j.havenfarm]

It's so moving to see someone display the courage of their convictions.

[Guillermo]

is this freak wearing an earring??

[trebb]

Do we have any info on how many people have already or are presently leaving the church over this? I will be interested to see the denomination's numbers in a year or two

My wife and I made the break official yesterday - from the look on the priest's face, I would hazard that we weren't the first to give him the news and we are in Mississippi, one of the States that had a representative at the abominable fiasco vote NO to Bum Diddley.

[ChocChipCookie]

Good Lord. He looks so light in the loafers he could take off any minute.

[new cruelty]

Either that or it is a pretty hearing aid.

[cake_crumb]

The god of the WCC is social collectivism/earth cultism. They broke the first Commandment years ago.

[xzins]

wahhhhh!

Sick little whine fruit.

[lawgirl]

I know that must have been a hard decision, but I would have made the same one.

[cake_crumb]

"When will the unrepentant thief become Bishop?"

Uh...insert Clinton or Je$$e joke here?

[fishtank]

No wonder W left the ECUSA!

[new cruelty]

Guess he could be referred to as 'man-pretty'.

[Paladin2b]

From what I have read, currently, the Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion.

And that 2.3 million figure is well-known by experts to be bogus. The ECUSA counts everyone who is on the baptismal registers, not by Sunday attendance. So that includes folks whose unchurched parents broought them for nominal baptism years ago and never came back. Best estimates are than on any given Sunday, 500K to 750K are sitting in the pews. The weight of the ECUSA is felt in the social standing of its members and its properties, not its sheer numbers.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Johnson says he voted "no" because the church hadn't done the theological study needed for it and because the worldwide Anglican Communion will be strained by it.

A very sensible man. A homosexual who is not a prisoner to the "gay agenda".

[dighton]

"I love you, and you love me."

[GrandMoM]

Bum Diddley...hehehe!