Ariz. Bishop on +Gene's Exculsion

Ariz. Episcopal bishop: Gay's exclusion 'insult'

By Stephanie Innes
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 07.11.2008

The bishop of Arizona's Episcopalians says it's "insulting" that an openly gay American bishop was not invited to next week's Lambeth Conference, a worldwide meeting of the Anglican Communion.

Arizona's Bishop Kirk S. Smith, a Phoenix resident, is one of about 700 bishops from around the globe who will attend the once-per-decade event, which will begin Tuesday in Canterbury, England. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, which has nearly 80 million worshippers around the world.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, was not invited to attend. But Smith said Robinson will be in Canterbury, just not at the event.
"I think it's a very insulting thing to the American church that a duly elected bishop is told he's not allowed to come," said Smith, who will be attending his first Lambeth Conference.
"The vast majority of my colleagues feel quite upset. But Gene himself told us, 'You need to go and make your case.' He has been gracious and complied with the archbishop of Canterbury. I hope I will be able to convince some of the bishops I meet with to meet Gene, so that he's not just a name."

Read the rest of the article here.

I find myself in the same camp as Bp. Smith. Gene Robinson is a duly elected Bishop of this Church, just as Bp. Smith and every other Bishop. However, I understand the difficultly of the situation. +Robinson's consecration is the source of major controversy: As Bp. Smith calls it, "The Gene Robinson issue." I am very glad that +Robinson will be at Lambeth to see as a witness to the Gospel and the love of Christ. That he will be there to meet with Bishops from around the world that they may know him and see why he was elected Bishop by the people of New Hampshire. I am also thankful for Bishops like +Smith, who understand the importance of +Robinson's witness to the church.

+Smith sums up very well what we as a Church - and the Bishops at Lambeth - need to do. "We have spent far too long arguing about these things, and we really need to get on with the mission of the church," Smith said. "One of my hopes for the Anglican bishops is that we can recommit ourselves to the larger mission, agree to disagree and get on with it."

As Bishop have gone and continue to travel to Lambeth let us hold them in our prayers. Let us pray for the unity of the Church and that we all may serve as a witness to Christ's presence and love in the world.

Loving God, some of our bishops have been involved in legal actions over issues our Church struggles with. Some have endured personal attack, discouragement, bewilderment. Some have found themselves in the midst of civil unrest and war. Some have experienced rejection and persecution. Many are going to Lambeth feeling fragile, fearful, anxious, wounded. Help them see themselves as You see them. Help us see them as You see them. May we speak lovingly and gently about all bishops, even those whose views differ from our own. May they do likewise about one another. May grace and holiness permeate our Church so that the world will see us as You call us to be--loving one another in thought and action. All this we ask through your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.