National Episcopal to Approve NH's Bishop-Elect

By Raquel Maria Dillon on Friday, August 1, 2003.

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Episcopalians from all over the country are gathered in Minneapolis to make some crucial decisions about the future of their church.

At the center of the controversy is New Hampshire's openly gay Bishop-elect, Gene Robinson. Detractors say if he becomes bishop, the debate over homosexuality will tear apart the Episcopal Church USA and the Anglican Church worldwide.

As New Hampshire Public Radio's Raquel Maria Dillon reports, supporters from New Hampshire and elsewhere are rallying around him.

Normally, the Episcopal Church?s approval of a new bishop is so routine its done by mail. But the election of the Reverend Canon Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire touches on the deep disagreement over homosexuality in the Church.
Tomorrow/later this morning, he?ll go before the national committee that approves bishops. Then the two houses that govern the Episcopal Church will vote ? the House of Deputies on Sunday and the House of Bishops on Monday.
New Hampshire?s Episcopal Diocese sent nine official deputies to the General Convention. Several other parishioners went along for support. The deputies report back that being from New Hampshire, is a conversation stopper. Everyone knows about their new Bishop-elect is gay. But the New Hampshire delegation want their colleagues to really know Robinson.
EXNER :07 I know Gene, and it would be real good for them to know gene before they make their decision so it?ll be an informed decision.

Reverend Bill Exner is the rector of St. Matthew?s Episcopal Church, in Goffstown. He and some 200 others will be wearing a pin that says ?Ask me about Gene?. (The man himself is wearing a pin that says ?I AM Gene.?) When people ask him, Exner says he?ll tell them about how Robinson was there for his family when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer.
EXNER :23 the person who was at our door asking how my wife and children were, was Gene Robinson and he was there for them throughout. The person who was at St. Matthews was Gene, letting people know that god is good. That we?re going to be just fine. People still tell me about that.

South Carolina Bishop Edward Salmon says he already knows Robinson, but he still doesn?t want him to be Bishop of New Hampshire.
SALMON :09 none of this is an issue about Canon Robinson personally. He and I know each other and are friends. That?s not at issue.

Salmon says a gay bishop would contradict what Christians believe about marriage. And he?s concerned that a gay bishop will alienate the growing Anglican Church in the developing world.
SALMON :19 Since we?re an international communion spread all over the world it puts the mission of the church at risk in places where those kinds of positions make it impossible to have a mission.

So, along with 24 other church leaders, Salmon signed a letter that warns of a ?constitutional crisis? in the Church. He promises some sort of response from Anglican leaders. Dioceses could secede, redirect their money, or refuse to recognize the New Hampshire Diocese. New Hampshire?s current Bishop Doug Theuner says those are empty threats.
THEUNER :19 An attempt to force the convention to do something. I don?t think it?ll be successful. I think people will say hey look , we need to make up our own mind. Please don?t blackmail us into threatening to do something awful if we don?t do what you want

Theuner says he?s optimistic that Robinson will pass in both Houses with the required supermajority of votes.
Gene Robinson says he?s more concerned about reaching out New Hampshire parishioners who are having trouble accepting his sexuality.
ROBINSON :18 we?re trying to stay calm, remember why we?re doing this. When I go out to congregations every Sunday. I come back so enthused, excited about serving ppl of NH That?s what I was elected to do not be on public radio talking about being gay.

Reverend Exner is hopeful that a gay bishop won?t cause the schism that some conservatives predict.
EXNER :06 I?m a red sox fan and I keep saying if they do anything more to Fenway Park I?m outta here and I know I won?t be outta here.

He hopes conservative Episcopal leaders have the same qualities that make a good Red Sox fan: loyalty, unity, and faith.
For NHPR News, I?m RMD.