Episcopal Church Focuses on Calif. Bishop Voting (3 of 7 candidates gay)

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Episcopal Church Focuses on California Bishop Voting
By NEELA BANERJEE
Published: May 5, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO, May 4 — The Episcopal Church's diocese of California will elect a new bishop on Saturday, the first such vote here in 27 years.

The election would normally play out as a decidedly local event, but many from the broader Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion to which it belongs are focused on it because three of the seven candidates are openly gay or lesbian ministers in long-term relationships.

Three years ago, when the Episcopal Church consecrated the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, making him the first openly gay bishop in the church's history, it set off a bitter fight in the denomination about homosexuality that threatened to rend the church and the worldwide communion.

If the diocese of California elects a gay bishop, experts on the church said, the denomination could edge even closer to the point of fracture.

"It has enormous and possibly decisive consequences," said the Very Rev. Paul F. M. Zahl, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., and a leading conservative in the church. "You almost can't exaggerate the importance it would have if they elected a partnered gay person as a bishop."...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/us/05episcopal.html

[xxqqqzme]

1. a gay, African-American mayor

was elected in Palm Springs & my RW parents let it simmer...If an openly gay bishop is elected, they will probably bid good-bye 2 the Episcopal church.

[JerseygirlCT]

2. Forgive me, but my first reaction is good riddance.

I don't want to belong to a church accepting of homophobia. I was so proud of the Episcopal Church afer Gene Robinson was elected. We lost a few parishioners (awful to see who -- I never knew!), but we gained more as people came to us because we would be welcoming.

[pearl]

3. I happen to know one of the candidates

Went to her church here in Chicago a couple of months ago. a few times

[hedgehog]

4. Anyone who thinks these are the first gay bishops is blind to reality.

Bravo for an end to the lies and the hiding. I just wish my Church hierarchy would wise up.

[JerseygirlCT]

5. Absolutely -- Gene Robinson's big sin was honesty. Made it hard

for some to continue to ignore the issue.

I hope the best candidate wins -- regardless of orientation. And won't it be wonderful when that's all the last paragraph in the bio? "Rev. X lives with his partner of 20 years..." almost as an aside?