Church would be more ‘godly’ if it embraced gays says bishop
-07/11/05
The wider Ang
Church would be more ‘godly’ if it embraced gays says bishop
-07/11/05
The wider Anglican Church would be a “more godly place” if it were to embrace homosexuals, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop has said.
The comments came from Gene Robinson as he addressed a crowd of about 150 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in London to mark the 10th anniversary of Changing Attitude, a British-based group that promotes the ordination of openly gay clergy.
Robinson said his home state of New Hampshire in the United States “is the one place in the world where I am not the gay bishop. I’m just the bishop … It is a wonderful feeling.”
But other dioceses have refused to countenance the ordination of openly gay priests and bishops.
“It never occurs to them that the church might be a better place and a more godly place with our full inclusion, Robinson said.
While the fierce debate continues, Robinson said he has hope for the gay clergy of the future.
“This is going to end with our full inclusion,” he said. “We won’t live to see it, but it’s going to happen.”
“The good news is I haven’t had a death threat in almost a year,” he added.
Robinson has not been allowed to preach or preside over any Church of England services during his visit to Britain, but he did attend a service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturday and afterward addressed the congregation.
Robinson declined to discuss his conversation on Friday with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The event comes before a conference next week, sponsored by Ekklesia, which will look at the future of gay and lesbian people in the Church.
Church would be more ‘godly’ if it embraced gays says bishop
-07/11/05
The wider Anglican Church would be a “more godly place” if it were to embrace homosexuals, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop has said.
The comments came from Gene Robinson as he addressed a crowd of about 150 at St. Martin-in-the-Fields church in London to mark the 10th anniversary of Changing Attitude, a British-based group that promotes the ordination of openly gay clergy.
Robinson said his home state of New Hampshire in the United States “is the one place in the world where I am not the gay bishop. I’m just the bishop … It is a wonderful feeling.”
But other dioceses have refused to countenance the ordination of openly gay priests and bishops.
“It never occurs to them that the church might be a better place and a more godly place with our full inclusion, Robinson said.
While the fierce debate continues, Robinson said he has hope for the gay clergy of the future.
“This is going to end with our full inclusion,” he said. “We won’t live to see it, but it’s going to happen.”
“The good news is I haven’t had a death threat in almost a year,” he added.
Robinson has not been allowed to preach or preside over any Church of England services during his visit to Britain, but he did attend a service at St. Martin-in-the-Fields on Saturday and afterward addressed the congregation.
Robinson declined to discuss his conversation on Friday with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
The event comes before a conference next week, sponsored by Ekklesia, which will look at the future of gay and lesbian people in the Church.