Gay bishop won't attend conference

LA Times ^ | 3.11.08 | Rebecca Trounson

[meandog]

The Episcopal Church's only openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, said Monday that he would not attend a global gathering of Anglicans in London this summer, telling fellow Episcopal leaders he had declined an offer that he said would not have allowed him to play any meaningful role at that meeting.

Robinson, who is attending a retreat this week in Texas with other Episcopal bishops, told the group he had decided not to attend the Lambeth Conference, after negotiations for him to participate or be granted official observer status had failed. His remarks were released by the Episcopal Church late Monday.

The Lambeth Conference is a once-a-decade gathering of leaders of the Anglican Communion, the world's third- largest Christian denomination. It is hosted by the archbishop of Canterbury, currently the Most Rev. Rowan Williams.

The Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of Anglicanism, sparked an uproar in 2003 when it consecrated Robinson as bishop.

The idea of an official role for Robinson at the conference had fueled tensions between the U.S. church and Anglicans overseas.

[meandog]

Vickie Gene Robinson miffed because he would not have been allowed to actively participate in the global gathering of Anglicans in London.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

It gags me that he’s in Texas. Texans - we must be on guard.

[Clock King]

The African bishops would tell him to his face that he is wrong. Good.

[sr4402]

The loss of membership in the liberal Churches is by no means staunched. The problem can be traced to higher criticism of God's word; following Satan's statement "Has God indeed said?"

Having abandoned the Authority of Scripture, the logical conclusion is occurring and the open worship of another God (Gaia) and another Trinity is having a pronounced effect.

[Patriotic1]

"I am dismayed and sick-hearted that we can't sit around a table, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and study Scripture together," Robinson said.

Well, he probably wouldn't have liked the topics that they would discuss with them.

What I don't know is whether any bishop that attends is allowed to participate. Of course, the article doesn't mention it.

[lastchance]

Please, please break out the hankies and proceed henceforth to this blog by Dr. Mabuse. We must all share the pain of V Gene once again not being allowed to not be the gay bishop.

http://kraalspace.blogspot.com/

Here is an excerpt to whet your appetites.

Not since Dr. Zachary Smith skulked aboard the Jupiter 2 has there been so much pain (on the part of the performer, that is. That of the audience exceeds it by several magnitudes.) (comment by Dr. Mabuse)

I want to be clear than I am not here to whine. I learned of the result of this negotiation on Friday evening. I have been in considerable pain every since. (The pain!)

But I want to acknowledge that I am not the first or last person to be in pain at a House of Bishops meeting. (Oh, William!)

My own pain was sufficient enough that for 36 hours I felt the compelling urge to run, to flee. (actual excerpt from V Gene’s response to his not being invited to the party Lambeth.)