Gay Episcopalian bishop predicts other churches will welcome gays

Agence France-Presse. | 8/06/03

[kattracks]

The US Episcopal church's first openly gay bishop predicted that other churches would soon follow his denomination's example in welcoming gays into their leadership.

"I suspect that before too very long, other denominations will also follow and welcome openly gay and lesbian people into leadership positions. That's my prayer," Gene Robinson told ABC television on Wednesday.

A majority of the church's House of Bishops on Tuesday voted 62 to 45 to ratify Robinson's appointment as bishop of New Hampshire, church officials said, ending three days of contentious debate.

Conservatives within church ranks, many of whom have fiercely opposed Robinson's election on the grounds it violates Biblical teachings, were quick to express their disapproval, and a group of 24 bishops threatened to resign if he were elected.

"Well, anytime anyone decides to leave the church, it's a very sad thing. And I certainly have been praying and will be praying every day that such a thing does not happen," Robinson said. "Indeed, I don't think it needs to happen."

"The Episcopal Church in this country, and the Anglican community worldwide, the great gift we bring to the world is we are able to maintain a wide diversity of opinions on various issues while holding our faith in Jesus Christ as central and the thing that binds us together as the body of Christ. So I think there's no reason for us to come apart," Robinson said.

The Episcopal Church, the US branch of the Anglican Church, has more than 2.1 million followers, making it the 10th-largest Protestant church in the United States.

[RussianConservative]

There is one already, called Orthodox, we take many disgruntled/disillusioned protestants/catholics world over. Many in Africa (Nigeria, Kenya, S. Africa) convert now and even in S. America.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

You are so right. ECUSA has become an ever shrinking statistic on the religious scene. It is like a formerly listed NYSE stock hitting the pink sheets. They really haven't a clue as to what they are doing to themselves. They will still think they are right when there are only ten of them left.

[PhiKapMom]

One of my kid's great aunts is Russian Orthodox -- nicest person you would ever hope to meet -- her sister-in-law, my kid's grandmother wouldn't attend her son's wedding because he didn't get married in the Roman Catholic Church.

Can see people going to the Russian or Green Orthodox churches instead of what I see in some American churches today.

[cpprfld]

I have belonged to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for the last 35 years---it really upsets me when they group us with the other so-called Lutherans (ELCA). First of all they are not Evangelical, they are not Lutheran. I aggree they are a church , but they are not American. three of the four initials are false at least argumentative. We are probably the most CONSERVATIVE church in America.

I agree, the Missouri Synod and the Wisconsin Synod are two of the most conservative churchs in the country. There are a few Wisconsin Synod congerations in northern Wisconsin who still runs their services in German. I used to be a member of ELCA, but they are going to have problems.

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

They brag about their diverse opinions,diversity be damned!This bishop says he prays!Who to?Satan!America is clearly under attack and all we seem to worry about is a damn basketball dribbler!

[First Amendment]

It does say women should not lie with women, probably someone has the verse by now.

[RinaseaofDs]

I know them both. Both verses. Both Old Testament verses. The OT says that you can't do any work on the sabbath. Ever mow your lawn on a Sunday (or Saturday if you are an adventist)?

Sin is sin is sin. You can't go to Heaven with it on your soul. If you are saved, then the debt is paid in full. It doesn't mean Satan can't used the Saved to achieve his objectives.

[RinaseaofDs]

Agree completely. That's the whole beef here.

[RinaseaofDs]

Your clarification:

There is more and more science to indicate that being a homosexual is more disease that it is a lifestyle choice. Like this person said, she didn't choose to prefer women sexually over men. Most lesbians find sex with a man repugnant in the same way that a heterosexual male would find sodomy repugnant.

As such, being gay is a lot like being an alcoholic. You can know you are an alcoholic, and live with the fact that you can't drink. You can be forever a homosexual and never commit a homosexual act. You are never an ex-alcoholic. My understanding is that you are never ex-gay, though there are therapies for converting gays to hereros that may or may not work, I don't know.

I seem to keep commiting the same old sins in my life, though I do it less often as I get older and gain in faith. My goal is to not sin ever, but in given situations I choose to anyway even though it is wrong.

Being saved doesn't make you an ex-sinner. Your debt is paid, and now you are an example to those that aren't. The saved aren't perfect, just blessed. This is something that really hacks off people who aren't saved, this misconception by some Christians that somehow they are now perfect. They're souls are clean, but they are still human beings.

[RinaseaofDs]

I'll tell you this, I'd rather have other guy make a pass at me than shoot me in the head.

To people, there is a massive difference between stealing a pen or blowing your brains all over your keyboard.

If you want to be with God in Heaven, any sin is too much sin, which is the only point I was making.

Democrats have made abortion a constitutional right. To me, that's nearly the same thing as mainstreaming sodomy. So far, I haven't heard a clergy member come out and say that abortion is God's way - yet.

Gay's aren't the first to try and make something abominable sacred. Revelation tells us there will be more of that anyway, right? If you want to argue that the effect of that sin (sodomy) on society is worse than stealing pens, then I agree with you.

[MarMema]

I am a member of the Orthodox Church of America.
www.oca.org

Our family is actively involved in our parish community. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you.

Katnip is another freeper who is a member of the OCA, besides formerlib.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Fire sale is right. The church needs some disinfecting.

[ImphClinton]

My Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Ex-communicates all gays. Thus we have no known gay members. Although we still allow them to come to church and try to love them into changing their ways.

[jethropalerobber]

Leviticus 20: --

do you support the death penalty for homosexuals?

[nyconse]

Good policy- I wish more churches would do this. Love the sinner, but hate the sin.

[jethropalerobber]

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

is it a sin to have relations with your wife while she is menstrating?

[ImphClinton]

You may misunderstand what I am saying.

I am saying to love everyone on earth enough to reach out to them and remind them of their evil ways. Then provide them a way to repent. Until they do so them are Fags or Lezzies or Whores or whatever they are. They are an abomination.

Loving someone does not mean you can not constantly remind them of their most serious sins. It means you should remind them. I never at home spear reverently of a Fag or a Lezzie a Whore or a Flanderer. These are all very evil people certinaly not worthy of me speaking nicely of them. I do however teach my children to take any chance they get to try to get these people to repent.

That is what Christ did. He healed and told people to sin no more. But they had to seek Christ out and believe in him to be healed. Remember the one man he told to wash in the Jordan seven times. That was because this man did not believe yet. I gurantee Christ would have nothing but condemnation of gays. He would in no way show love to them the way they want us to love them. They don't really want love they want acceptance of their evil ways. I can and will not accept them as anything other than very evil people.

These people do not deserve high office in government let alone the church (where they should be ex-communicated).

[Lexington Green]

do you support the death penalty for homosexuals?

Certainly not. I really don't care what consenting adults do with their organs. I like to post Leviticus because it is so shocking. I'll post some more below. Don't know many folks who agree with their God on these points.

Leviticus 20:8-27 -
You shall faithfully observe My laws: I the Lord make you holy. If anyone insults his father or his mother, he shall be put to death; he has insulted his father and his mother--his bloodguilt is upon him. If a man commits adultery with a married woman, committing adultery with another man's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall be put to death. If a man lies with his father's wife, it is the nakedness of his father that he has uncovered; the two shall be put to death--their bloodguilt is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall be put to death; they have committed incest--their bloodguilt is upon them. If a man lies with a male as one lies with a woman, the two of them have done an abhorrent thing; they shall be put to death--their bloodguilt is upon them.

[jethropalerobber]

My Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) Ex-communicates all gays. Thus we have no known gay members.

that's not correct.

the mormon church does NOT teach that being gay is a sin, therefore there are many gay people who enjoy all of the rights and blessings of full membership.

and while the church DOES forbid engaging in homosexual behavior, transgressors are NOT summarily excommunicated as you suggest.

church discipline naturally varies a bit from bishop to bishop, but from accounts i've heard and read, homosexual fornication is treated similarly to fornication in general. the discipline can vary from just the loss of temple rights (obligatory) to disfellowship to excommunication. it seems to depend largely on the person's willingness seek forgiveness and try to avoid future transgression.

you ought to learn more about your church before you go speading the "good news."

[Grassontop]

Apparently this bishop must have tried Jesus, but decided he didn't like Him, so, he traded his Jesus for the devil! What a horrible trade!

I'll take Jesus over all of what this world has to offer me in pleasures, gold, and silver! This world isn't my home anyway, I'm just passing through or better yet, I'm racing with the apostle Paul! Grassontop