US Episcopalians elect gay bishop
The Episcopal Church in the US has voted to approve the election of their first openly gay bishop, a decision that risks splitting their denomination and shattering ties with their Anglican sister churches worldwide.
After a delay caused by an allegation that he inappropriately touched another man and was affiliated with a web site that had a link to porn, the Episcopal General Convention in Minneapolis last night approved the Reverend Gene Robinson as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire.
Dr Robinson had been cleared of the accusations a few hours before the vote was taken.
Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold voted 62-45 to confirm Dr Robinson’s election.
American conservatives and like-minded overseas bishops who represent millions of Anglicans have said confirming Dr Robinson would force them to consider breaking away from the church.
The Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the US branch of the 77 million-member global Anglican Communion, which has been debating the role of gays for decades. A win by Dr Robinson was expected to build momentum for other policy changes that would be favourable to homosexuals.
The Episcopal Church has no official rules – either for or against – ordaining gays.
Some Episcopal parishes already allow homosexual clergy to serve and gays who did not reveal their sexual orientation have served as bishops. But Dr Robinson is the first clergyman in the Anglican Communion to live openly as a gay man before he was elected.
In 1998, Anglican leaders approved a resolution calling gay sex “incompatible with Scripture”.
Bishops who hold that view believe that allowing Dr Robinson to serve would be a tacit endorsement of ordaining homosexuals.
Dr Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, has been living with his male partner for 13 years and serving as an assistant to the current New Hampshire bishop, who is retiring. Parishioners there said they chose Dr Robinson simply because he was the best candidate.
