Post by Carl on Nov 24, 2003 11:38:41 GMT -5
I guess this is the appropriate forum for anything about the Bishop of New Hampshire:
New Bishop Welcomed in Portsmouth
[iPortsmouth, NH Monday, November 24, 2003 ][/i]
New bishop welcomed with open arms in Portsmouth
By Joe Adler
jadler@seacoastonline.com
PORTSMOUTH - After five months in the spotlight of worldwide controversy, Bishop V. Gene Robinson was with friends Sunday, appearing in Portsmouth to
preach, share how he deals with adversity and hear the praises of those welcomed back to the Episcopal Church by his message.
Three weeks after his consecration as the first openly gay bishop in the church, Robinson delivered the sermon at Christ Episcopal Church on Lafayette Road on Christ the King Day, followed by a forum on his vision for the New Hampshire Diocese.
The hall was full for the weekend service. In addition to parishioners, those to be confirmed and one to be baptized, Christians from other parishes came as well, seemingly drawn to Robinson's embodiment of a new era in the faith.
Terry Lyons left the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester, where the parish voted against Robinson's selection and a minister was dismissed for opposing the
bishop because of his homosexuality.
"I saw how much hate there was in God's house," Lyons said to Robinson and the smaller crowd that stayed for the forum. She added her doubt that the bishop is causing a rift in the Anglican Church.
"They're the ones splitting the church," she said of her former congregation.
"God wants you to unite the church."
Robinson's ascendance has been welcomed in many circles throughout the state and internationally. Yet, some dioceses around the world, which consider his
consecration an abomination, have suggested their leaving the Anglican Church or creating a splinter sect as dissent.
Robinson, who will replace the Rev. Douglas Theuner as head of the New Hampshire Diocese in March, told the forum that the Diocese of Uganda has just publicized its disapproval and possible departure from the church. Recently, Nigeria made a similarly high-profile show of protest.
He said their dissent dismays him since his diocese worked cooperatively with bishops around the world in pushing for better health care to treat AIDS victims in those countries when his sexual orientation was not an issue.
"The thing that really breaks my heart is that those who oppose us are saying that this one thing is more important than all the things we hold together," Robinson said. "This one thing trumps all of that. That, I say, is idolatry."
In addition to talking about the controversy, Robinson laid out a bold agenda he would like to carry out for the state's Episcopal parishes when he steps into his post.
He wants the diocese to be more active in the most pressing political issues facing the state, including the need to fund school districts equitably and addressing the state's shortage of effective social services.
In an implied jab to Portsmouth and other donor communities that have complained of their having to send tax dollars to poorer school districts, Robinson
called the debate "a moral issue."
"We can't just educate our own kids in our own towns," he said.
Gov. Craig Benson's lack of spending on social services for the poor drew a not-so-veiled criticism. "The fact is we have a governor right now who is cutting so many services," Robinson said. "I think it's inexcusable."
Despite the scorn and threats he has received since news of his ascendance was announced, Robinson numerous times lightened the tone with humor when
talking about the tumult of the last five months.
He prefaced the forum discussion by asking, in reference to his abundant appearances on the national news shows, if "anyone wants to know what Matt Lauer's hair is like in person?"
After he finished his criticism of Benson, he spoke jokingly of his entitlement to discuss political issues.
"I know I'm going to be accused of trying to be too political, but after what I've been through, it's probably too late," he said.
During the sermon, Robinson drew laughter when he presented a newly baptized baby to the audience as "this brand-, spanking-new Christian!"
At the beginning of the forum, a parishioner asked Robinson if his life has calmed down at all after the initial storm caused by his selection as bishop.
"Yes and no - there is still that storm going on," the bishop said, adding that he and his partner received another death threat last week. "The e-mails
are down to about 500 a day."
As the morning and afternoon wore on, the parish heard from numerous gay churchgoers who told Robinson that his message of Jesus Christ accepting them for who they are has rejuvenated their faith. One woman said how when she came out to her family and her Baptist church, it became an issue that clouded all aspects of membership in the congregation.
"There was always this voice in my head: 'But you're gay; you're gay,'" she said. "When I go into that church, I don't feel God as much as I do today."
Seacoast Online is owned and operated by Seacoast Newspapers.Copyright © 2003 Seacoast Online. All rights reserved.
New Bishop Welcomed in Portsmouth
[iPortsmouth, NH Monday, November 24, 2003 ][/i]
New bishop welcomed with open arms in Portsmouth
By Joe Adler
jadler@seacoastonline.com
PORTSMOUTH - After five months in the spotlight of worldwide controversy, Bishop V. Gene Robinson was with friends Sunday, appearing in Portsmouth to
preach, share how he deals with adversity and hear the praises of those welcomed back to the Episcopal Church by his message.
Three weeks after his consecration as the first openly gay bishop in the church, Robinson delivered the sermon at Christ Episcopal Church on Lafayette Road on Christ the King Day, followed by a forum on his vision for the New Hampshire Diocese.
The hall was full for the weekend service. In addition to parishioners, those to be confirmed and one to be baptized, Christians from other parishes came as well, seemingly drawn to Robinson's embodiment of a new era in the faith.
Terry Lyons left the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester, where the parish voted against Robinson's selection and a minister was dismissed for opposing the
bishop because of his homosexuality.
"I saw how much hate there was in God's house," Lyons said to Robinson and the smaller crowd that stayed for the forum. She added her doubt that the bishop is causing a rift in the Anglican Church.
"They're the ones splitting the church," she said of her former congregation.
"God wants you to unite the church."
Robinson's ascendance has been welcomed in many circles throughout the state and internationally. Yet, some dioceses around the world, which consider his
consecration an abomination, have suggested their leaving the Anglican Church or creating a splinter sect as dissent.
Robinson, who will replace the Rev. Douglas Theuner as head of the New Hampshire Diocese in March, told the forum that the Diocese of Uganda has just publicized its disapproval and possible departure from the church. Recently, Nigeria made a similarly high-profile show of protest.
He said their dissent dismays him since his diocese worked cooperatively with bishops around the world in pushing for better health care to treat AIDS victims in those countries when his sexual orientation was not an issue.
"The thing that really breaks my heart is that those who oppose us are saying that this one thing is more important than all the things we hold together," Robinson said. "This one thing trumps all of that. That, I say, is idolatry."
In addition to talking about the controversy, Robinson laid out a bold agenda he would like to carry out for the state's Episcopal parishes when he steps into his post.
He wants the diocese to be more active in the most pressing political issues facing the state, including the need to fund school districts equitably and addressing the state's shortage of effective social services.
In an implied jab to Portsmouth and other donor communities that have complained of their having to send tax dollars to poorer school districts, Robinson
called the debate "a moral issue."
"We can't just educate our own kids in our own towns," he said.
Gov. Craig Benson's lack of spending on social services for the poor drew a not-so-veiled criticism. "The fact is we have a governor right now who is cutting so many services," Robinson said. "I think it's inexcusable."
Despite the scorn and threats he has received since news of his ascendance was announced, Robinson numerous times lightened the tone with humor when
talking about the tumult of the last five months.
He prefaced the forum discussion by asking, in reference to his abundant appearances on the national news shows, if "anyone wants to know what Matt Lauer's hair is like in person?"
After he finished his criticism of Benson, he spoke jokingly of his entitlement to discuss political issues.
"I know I'm going to be accused of trying to be too political, but after what I've been through, it's probably too late," he said.
During the sermon, Robinson drew laughter when he presented a newly baptized baby to the audience as "this brand-, spanking-new Christian!"
At the beginning of the forum, a parishioner asked Robinson if his life has calmed down at all after the initial storm caused by his selection as bishop.
"Yes and no - there is still that storm going on," the bishop said, adding that he and his partner received another death threat last week. "The e-mails
are down to about 500 a day."
As the morning and afternoon wore on, the parish heard from numerous gay churchgoers who told Robinson that his message of Jesus Christ accepting them for who they are has rejuvenated their faith. One woman said how when she came out to her family and her Baptist church, it became an issue that clouded all aspects of membership in the congregation.
"There was always this voice in my head: 'But you're gay; you're gay,'" she said. "When I go into that church, I don't feel God as much as I do today."
Seacoast Online is owned and operated by Seacoast Newspapers.Copyright © 2003 Seacoast Online. All rights reserved.
