Vote On Gay Bishop Delayed; Allegations Surface

nbc4.com, Minneapolis ^ | August 4, 2003

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The vote on confirming a gay Episcopal bishop was postponed Monday in light of allegations of pornography and inappropriate conduct, a church spokesman said.

A vote was expected Monday in Minneapolis that could make a New Hampshire clergyman, the Rev. Gene Robinson, the church's first openly gay elected bishop.

The spokesman said the postponement came after allegations emerged involving "touching" and "pornography." He declined to elaborate.

The church's House of Deputies has voted overwhelmingly to approve Robinson, who faces a final vote in the House of Bishops.

Robinson says Sunday's results make him feel "very peaceful on the inside" and "very humbled."

But the American Anglican Council, which represents conservative bishops and parishes, said it is "deeply grieved" by the results.

Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has lived with his partner, Mark Andrew, for 13 years.

Bishops who believe gay sex is a sin say the approval of Robinson will weaken and divide the denomination and spark a bitter fight over parish property and funds.

But liberals say the threat has been exaggerated and note that many conservatives had pledged to break ties before over issues such as ordaining women but did not follow through.

[shrinkermd]

Our Roman Catholic brethern are on notice that Protestants are quite capable of finding, ordaining and protecting Gay clergymen. Protestants won't stand still for being out Gayed on this issue.

[wideawake]

Probably 2.5 million active parishioners in the US.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thank you.

[Ronin]

They don't want to inherit it. They just want to fool around in it as long as the can and party down until the lights go out.

I am not a member of any particular sect although I do believe in God. Were I a member of a Church I would expect the Church to live by it's own rules -- and from what I have read, the Bible is perfectly clear when it comes to homosexual conduct.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Logically, the bishop either knows his behavior is a perversion or else he has justified the behavior in error.

It is troubling because he is either a fraud or else he is capable of justifying other perversions using his irrationality. (or something like that!)

[umgud]

If my church ever even got to the point of considering, let alone nominating a gay, I'd be gone. So if I were an Episcopalean, I'd leave regardelss the outcome.

[Sandylapper]

I think I heard that there are 22 million Episcopalians in the US. I do know that internationally, the Anglican/Episcopal church is quite a large group--not as large as the Roman Catholic, but large nonetheless.

The church began losing membership in the 70's when it came out in favor of Malcolm X, changed the prayer book, etc., etc. My memory is not infallible, but that's what I recall.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

I think that the ultimate goal of radical homosexuals is to force, through federal legislation, all Churches to accept homosexuality.

[DWPittelli]

Sodomy? No problem. Looking at pictures of naked people? You're outta here!

My understanding is that the web site of the gay youth organisation that the would-be Bishop had founded had links to porno sites until all its links were hurriedly removed today. So it wasn't just that the Bishop had some porn, it's that he (or at any rate, his organization) was effectively promoting it.

[aardvark1]

Amen!!

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Pure logic... a perverse mind thinks perversely.

[BlessedByLiberty]

Let's see, I would imagine the Baptists, particularly Southern Baptists will be the next targets in this agenda driven "acceptance" movement. There is money to be made here if lawsuits against churches for not accepting homosexuals into positions of authority begin being filed and won.

The material point here is that lawsuits for discrimination against homosexuality will be filed against churches, thus providing for government intervention in the church and liberal doctrine, dogma will be the order of the day.

[Tacis]

The Episcopals have been going down hill since the Coffin guy at Yale. Where does a faggot get the moral leadership that he needs to provide guidance for his flock? If everything is tenetative and there are no right answers why not just mane Oprah as bishop?

[DWPittelli]

The Bible states the qualifications for a minister. Looks like they forgot to check when they ordained a woman, and now attempting to ordain a gay man.

I don't believe that there's actually a list of qualifications in the Bible that rules out either women or gays. (Correct me if I'm wrong, please, with citation.) But one of the letters of Paul does decry women preaching, and of course most people consider Paul's letters canonical parts of the Bible, albeit probably a step below the 4 gospels in their level of authority.

Also, homosexuality is declared a sin in Paul's letters and numerous other places, and so implicitly at least the Bible would seem to rule out a homosexual religious leader. (One could also argue that it doesn't rule them out since we're all sinners, but there is of course a distinction between committing a sin and regularly and openly committing the same sin.)

All that said, if a church wants to make it up as they go, that's their business and part of the competition between churches for membership. (Too strict or too lax and you might schism or shrink away to oblivion, never mind the theological consequences.)

[DManA]

Could this church look any more foolish?

[journey7873]

Come Lord Jesus, quickly!

[Old Sarge]

I can't agree. The SouthBaptists are also part of the black community. Men of the cloth like Jackson and Sharpton might object.

Now, if those esteemed reverends are NOT of that denomination, someone fill me in. But I am of the opinion that Southern Baptists and the synagogues would be off limits.

For now...

[tinamina]

There are 77 million Anglicans worldwide, of which the Episcopal Church USA makes up 2 million two hundred thousand, a small percentage to go against the Biblically based worldwide church.

[yankeedame]

This church is spiritually broken and is on its way out. Probably will end up like the churches of Europe. All that remains is beautiful cathedrals, empty on Sundays but filled with tourists on weekdays.

Very well put, my friend.

[BlackElk]

Having lived at New Haven in the time of William Sloane Coffin, Jr., I believe he was a Congregationalist minister. He was the pastor of Battell Chapel at Yale University which is, I believe, still nominally Congregational. That should probably not be the fault even of Congregationalists but don't kick the Episcopalians when they are down by making them bear the additional burden of Comrade William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

The good will and prayers of all Christians are needed for Godly Episcopalians in their hour of need.