| THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER |
An Overview of Our Communion |
| (continued) The Consecration Bishop Roskam expressed her pleasure at the chance to participate in the consecration. “Bishop Sisk voted to support Gene Robinson’s consecration. Suffragan bishops, like me, had no vote in that circumstance at General Convention, so going to the consecration was a way to show solidarity with Canon Robinson, with the Diocese of New Hampshire, and with the gay and lesbian community.” She added, “I was glad to be there. And I appreciate Gene Robinson’s encouraging all there to use this experience for God in terms of welcoming the marginalized into the center.” Bishop Donovan, currently serving as interim vicar at Trinity, Manhattan, played a prominent role as one of the six bishop co-consecrators. He explained, “I have known Gene Robinson since 1970 when he did his seminary fieldwork under my supervision at St. Luke’s, Montclair, NJ. He returned for a second year with me and we have stayed in touch over the years in various ways: he led a workshop in Arkansas when I was bishop there for our youth advisors; he did sessions for me on spiritual and physical wellness at the College for Bishops; and he facilitated a day long conversation with the Council and Standing Committee during my New Jersey time as Assistant Bishop.” As for the consecration, Bishop Donovan observed, “The consecration itself was a very personal event for me and it is difficult to describe it objectively. Certainly a highlight of the service came when Gene made informal remarks following the Peace. He was in tears and so were many others as he thanked us, and as he expressed his anguish over those who were offended by his consecration.” Reaction Was
Swift Integrity, the national organization for gay Episcopalians, noted: “Just as the historic episcopates of Absalom Jones and Barbara Harris offered new opportunities for mission and ministry for all Episcopalians, we believe Bishop Robinson’s election is yet another step forward on behalf of the inclusive Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” On the other hand, the conservative American Anglican Council, defiantly opposed to Bishop Robinson, stated: “Today is a grievous day in the history of our Church.... Our family is now split and the whole cloth of the Anglican Communion is torn. Realignment has begun.” Archbishop Williams issued a statement following the consecration: “The divisions that are arising are a matter of deep regret; they will be all too visible in the fact that it will not be possible for Gene Robinson’s ministry as a bishop to be accepted in every province in the communion. It is clear that those who have consecrated Gene Robinson have acted in good faith on their understanding of what the constitution of the American church permits. But the effects of this upon the ministry and witness of the overwhelming majority of Anglicans particularly in the non-western world have to be confronted with honesty.” Strong negative reaction also came from many in the Anglican Communion, including Archbishop Drexel Gomez of the Province of the West Indies and Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria. Retired Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey also voiced his opposition from retirement. However, there have been equally strong positive words, including comments from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, head of South Africa’s Anglican Church, as well as many American bishops. Nonetheless, the cries for a realignment of the Anglican Communion, for dissolution of Communion with New Hampshire or ECUSA, and for threats to leave ECUSA all continue. (continued) |