Gay bishop-elect holds steady amid turmoil

MANCHESTER, N.H. - The Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop-elect said Sunday he agonizes over the turmoil his election is causing but believes God wants him to go forward.

"This is one of the hardest things I'll ever do," the Rev. V. Gene Robinson told about 40 people during religious education hour at Grace Church. "I do have this sense I'm supposed to go forward, and I do feel that's coming from God and not my own ego. But I don't know."

Robinson was elected by New Hampshire clergy and parishioners in June and confirmed by the national Episcopal Church in August. He is scheduled to be consecrated as bishop of New Hampshire in two weeks.

The election and confirmation of Robinson outraged some conservatives, who threatened to divide the Episcopal Church in the United States and the worldwide Anglican Communion of which it is part.

Robinson, who was accompanied by a police officer Sunday, remains optimistic about the future of the church, saying it has weathered similar crises before.

Much of the Anglican Communion does not recognize the ordination of women, he said, and yet the Communion holds together.

Asked to explain what's behind the anger over his election, Robinson said he believes it's a sign that patriarchy is ending in the church as women, people of color and gays are more fully included.

The election of a gay man as bishop is a "threat to the way things have been done, when white men have pretty much been in charge of everything," he said.

Anglican leaders, representing 77-million members worldwide, have called homosexuality "contrary to Scripture." Robinson and his supporters say that is outweighed by the Scripture's call for love and acceptance of all.

During his conversation with parishioners, Paul Apple of Mont Vernon asked Robinson to consider stepping aside in the interests of preserving the larger church.

Robinson responded: "If I step down, do you really think other qualified gays and lesbians wouldn't be elected?"

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright