The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, 9th bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in the US Episcopal Church, was the first priest in an openly gay relationship to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination. Although he was elected by the House of Bishops, with 62 in favour, 43 opposed and 2 abstaining, Robinson received hate mail and had to wear a bullet proof vest at his consecration ceremony on 2 November 2003. The ceremony was held in the presence of Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold and six co-consecrating bishops. 48 bishops in all attended the ceremony.
Bishop Robinson is set to officially retire on 5th January 2013, bringing an end to the career that helped break homophobic barriers within the Anglican church in the US. As he prepares for the next step in his life, Robinson says he's in awe of the rapid progress his religion has made in the nine years since he first became bishop.
Reported on Towleroad:
http://www.towleroad.com/2012/12/gay-bishop-gene-robinson-prepares-for-retirement.html
For more information about the Bishop:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Robinson
UPDATE - 31 December 2012
Bishop Robinson reflects on his tenure in New Hampshire
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/30/gene-robinson-first-gay-bishop_n_2385855.html
Unsurprisingly, he was not the first bishop to love another man, though he was the first openly gay man to be elected as a bishop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bishops
No comments:
Post a Comment