Gay Bishop Says No to Ultimatum

[Doondoo]

The first openly gay Episcopal bishop, whose consecration has brought the world's Anglicans to the brink of schism, said Tuesday that the Episcopal Church should not give in to demands that it roll back its acceptance of gays.

New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson said in a statement that Episcopalians should set aside the Anglican Communion's request for now ``and get on with the work of the Gospel'' even at the risk of losing their place in the Anglican fellowship.

``Doesn't Jesus challenge the greater whole to sacrifice itself for those on the margins?'' Robinson said. ``Now is the time for courage, not fear.''

It was Robinson's first public statement on an ultimatum that Anglican leaders issued last week during a meeting in Tanzania. They gave the U.S. denomination until Sept. 30 to unequivocally pledge not to consecrate another gay bishop or authorize official prayers for same-sex couples. If it doesn't, the church risks a much-reduced role in the Anglican family of churches that trace their roots back to the Church of England.

.......

Robinson said gays and lesbians were being asked to sacrifice much more than others. He compared Anglicans who oppose full acceptance of gays and lesbians to the Pharisees, and said Jesus would never have been asked to halt his ministries out of sensitivity to them.

``How will we explain this 'forbearance' to all those gay and lesbian Christians who have come to the Episcopal Church because, for the first time ever, they have believed that there is a place for them at God's table, not simply beneath it, hoping for fallen scraps?'' he wrote.



http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6445058,00.html

[Rue]

1. More power to him!

It's great that Robinson isn't backing down against those who would place dogma over faith.

[muntrv]

2. I bet the Episcopal Church will survive despite being shunned from the Anglican Communion.

[DemoTex]

3. A good friend of mine lost his job over this: Rev. Mark Anschutz.

Mark was the only member of the Texas delegation (lay and clergy) to vote for Gene Robinson's ordination (or whatever it's called) as Bishop back about four years ago. Mark was the rector of posh Highland Park's St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.

Mark and his wife were neighbors in Dallas, and they were both liberal fish-out-of-water (like me). We loved to walk the beautiful parks of Highland Park together, with our dogs, talking theology, politics, and anti-war sentiments with roots in the Viet Nam debacle. I even saw the Anshutz's black lab, Mystic, follow my Sweet Sirius' lead and poop in Dick Cheney's front yard on Euclid Avenue. Several times.

Although I am Presbyterian, I knew Mark from his days at Christ's Church in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Mark left Christ's Church for a pulpit at a big Episcopal church on Park Avenue or Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. From there he went to the Highland Park church in Dallas.

Mark was always amazed at how open and accepting my family has been with respect to my youngest brother's (the radiologist) gayness. Mark often told me of astounding high percentages of youth in his rich church who confided in him as to their homosexuality. Often, Mark told me, those kids' parents were the most vocal homophobes and the most rabid right-wingers in a community that celebrated JFKs assassination with parties at the Dallas Country Club, located a few blocks from St. Michael and All Angels in Highland Park.

Mark was run out of Dallas on a rail, because of his support for Bishop Gene Robinson. Somewhere, on the web, is Rev. Anshutz's farewell to his flock in Dallas. It is sad. Google Mark Anshutz and the church name and you will probably find it.

Mark and his wife retired to their beloved New England beach house. I will not disclose where it is, but I will hope and pray that these extraordinary good people, in every sense of the word, live and love their remaining years in the Peace of Christ.

Mac

[DrRang]

7. coincidences

We go to St. Michael and All Angels in Albuquerque. We've found it to be a wonderful, anti-war, pro-gay place becoming pretty much disillusioned with every church we encountered. And I had an old uncle who lived in a less tony section of Highland park--a "Southern Gentleman of the Old School," meaning he was conservative and racist to the point of being barking mad.

[DemoTex]

4. I'm chiming in again to K&R.

This is a very important article about the work of Gene Robinson. Whatever Robinson's detractors may say, they are (like George Bu$h on his endless wars) wrong .. wrong .. wrong! Robinson .. unlike Bu$h .. has The Man on his side: Jesus Christ.

[saigon68]

5. K&R

[xchrom]

6. hey! saigon! -- k&r ditto head here.

[gratuitous]

8. Jesus himself changed his mind

When the Canaanite woman confronted him, and Jesus tried to dismiss her, she reminded him that even the dogs get the occasional scrap under the table. Jesus changed his mind and healed her daughter when convicted of his own bigotry toward the Canaanites.

Is there no one in the Anglican church with the humility of Jesus?

[intheflow]

9. K&R n/t

[bemildred]

10. "Now is the time for courage, not fear."

:bounce::applause: