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(Columbus, Ohio) The first
openly gay Episcopal bishop said at a packed church hearing
Wednesday night that he is "not an abomination," as
he pleaded with the denomination not to bar gays from the
office of bishop, even temporarily, for the sake of Anglican
unity.
If Episcopalians "see
Christ in the faithful lives of our gay and lesbian
members," they should have the courage to say so, no
matter the potential consequences, said Bishop V. Gene
Robinson of New Hampshire.
"I am not an abomination
before God," he told the Episcopal General Convention.
"Please, I beg you, let's say our prayers and stand up
for right."
But Bishop Robert Duncan, who
leads a network of conservative Episcopal dioceses that
opposed Robinson's consecration, told those at the hearing
that the denomination is attempting an impossible task,
"which is to hold together the conserving and progressive
wings of our church."
"We've reached a moment
where it is very difficult, indeed I think we've reached an
impossible moment, in holding it together," said Duncan,
of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
The convention will vote over
the next few days whether to meet demands from Anglican
leaders to impose a moratorium on electing gay bishops and
express regret for the turmoil caused by Robinson's 2003
consecration.
The Episcopal Church is the
U.S. arm of the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, the
global association of churches that trace their roots to the
Church of England. The majority of overseas Anglicans believe
the Bible prohibits same-sex relationships, and they want the
Americans to follow that teaching or leave the communion.
If Anglican leaders dislike the
outcome of the General Convention, which runs through June 21,
the communion could break apart. Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams, the Anglican spiritual leader, has repeatedly
expressed concern about the future of the fellowship.
"We cannot survive as a
communion of churches without some common convictions about
what it is to live and to make decisions as the Body of
Christ," he wrote in a message to the General Convention,
which runs through June 21.
Wednesday night's hearing was
organized by a committee crafting the Episcopal response to
the crisis. The main proposal before delegates does not
contain a moratorium on future gay bishops. Instead, it asks
dioceses to "exercise very considerable caution" in
electing leaders. However, delegates can revise or reject the
legislation.
People began standing in line
more than an hour before the hearing began to make sure they
could get inside. Delegates and visitors filled the vast hotel
ballroom to its 1,500-person capacity, while an overflow crowd
outside listened on speakers as delegates took turns
commenting on how the church should proceed.
Many expressed concern about
the church's place in the Anglican family, while others said
it would go against God to put restrictions on gay clergy.
©365Gay.com 2006
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