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By KASIA KOPEC [email protected]
Thursday, August 07, 2003 Page: 1A
The Episcopal Church’s precedent-setting vote to appoint an openly gay man
to the post of bishop is rooted in a longstanding church tradition said one
local pastor.
The Rev. Henry Pease, pastor of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Nanticoke,
acknowledged the decision is painful to some church members but said it is
customary for the broader church to affirm actions of individual dioceses.
At their national convention Tuesday, bishops from around the country voted
62-45 to confirm the Rev. Gene Robinson’s election as leader of the Diocese of
New Hampshire. Robinson, a 56-year-old divorced father of two, had been
elected bishop by members of his own diocese.
Robinson’s confirmation was applauded by Pease, who said it shows the
church is seeking to be open to God’s work in this day and age.
“I think the church as a whole is primarily seeking holy leaders and
clearly the people of the Diocese of New Hampshire feel this is true about
this man. From everything I’ve heard, he is very much respected.”
The Rev. Vivian Bennett, who serves as interim pastor at Prince of Peace
Episcopal Church in Dallas, said she is delighted by the church’s move.
“I am absolutely supportive of individuals who are qualified being put in
positions of responsibility regardless of their sexual orientation. I think
the church should be inclusive, not exclusive, because that is the teaching of
Jesus.”
The subject of inclusion also was on the mind of the Rev. Canon Bill
Lewellis, who is the communications minister for the Diocese of Bethlehem,
comprised of churches from the Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.
Lewellis said there is room in the church for marginalized people,
including gays and lesbians, and for those who believe openly gay people
should not be given leadership positions in the church.
“The genius of Anglicanism for me is church where all people who take
scripture and the tradition of Christianity seriously are welcome, even if
they don’t agree on their understanding of scripture and tradition.”
Tom Burke, who serves as senior warden at St. Stephen’s Pro Cathedral in
Wilkes-Barre, said though there is room for differences of opinion he worries
Robinson’s appointment will cause more conservative members of his church to
leave. “I know there are some people who are upset about it and it may cause
them to go elsewhere, which, of course, would be a real shame.”
But Bennett said she doubts the election of Robinson will prove divisive as
some, including the bishop of Pittsburgh, warned will it would be.
“There have been other so-called divisive issues in the church’s history
that proved not to be all that divisive after all and I think this is
another,” Bennett said.
Kasia Kopec, a Times Leader staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436.