November 7, 2003, 11:33 AM EST
CONCORD, N.H. -- An Episcopal priest opposed to having a gay bishop has been removed as interim pastor of the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester, the church treasurer said Friday. Kathy Lewis said members of the church's executive committee were told Thursday night that Bishop Douglas Thuener had removed the Rev. Don Wilson. Wilson opposed the consecration last weekend of Bishop V. Gene Robinson, as do many of the church's roughly 60 members.
Lewis said Wilson had clashed repeatedly with Theuner over Robinson's elevation, which has divided both the U.S. Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion to which it belongs.
Here and elsewhere, some conservatives say they will not recognize Robinson and have asked for pastoral oversight from bishops who share their belief that homosexuality is a violation of Scripture.
Wilson, who lives in Berwick, Maine, is a retired priest who became interim pastor of the Redeemer Church when its rector retired in April. Diocesan officials said Wilson was serving at the pleasure of the bishop, who retained the right to remove him. rest of story