Break over gay bishop likely

• Some local churches struggling with issue

By Richard N. Ostling
Associated Press

This is a look at recent developments in the Episcopal Church crisis over V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop consecrated by a major Christian denomination. Robinson was elevated to his post in a ceremony Sunday. Ever since, there have been public pronouncements and jockeying for position among his opponents and supporters.

Q. Why has Robinson's consecration caused such a deep divide in the Episcopal Church?

A. Conservative Episcopalians uphold Christianity's traditional stand against gay sex. They feel very strongly that it is expressly forbidden in the Bible, so the Bible's authority is at stake in the current debate. Those in the church's larger liberal bloc are equally convinced that the biblical authors didn't realize some people are naturally attracted to others of the same sex and couldn't conceive of today's long-term gay relationships. Others say local Episcopal churches and dioceses should be left alone to do what they want.

Q. What are conservative Episcopalians doing now that Robinson is a bishop?

A. Conservative bishops and priests are creating a separate network of "confessing" dioceses and parishes — an enclave to preserve traditional teachings. It's unclear whether or when a formal schism might occur, but some sort of break with the Episcopal Church seems very likely.

Q. How would that come about?

A. It's uncertain. Much depends on the Episcopalians' fellow Anglicans overseas. The Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the American branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion, which has 77 million adherents. The conservatives have the support of many of the 37 foreign Anglican church leaders, or primates. But the ultimate question is whether the Anglican spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, either recognizes the U.S. conservatives or withdraws recognition from the Episcopal Church.

If he takes either one of those actions, the conservatives' separate network will gain legitimacy.

Q. Has there been international fallout?

A. Yes. Many overseas Anglicans denounced the consecration this week, including key archbishops in Africa and former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey, who said it has done "incalculable" damage. That's not surprising since 82 percent of the world's Anglican bishops called same-sex practices "incompatible with Scripture" at a 1998 conference.

Q. Where does the Episcopal Church's leader stand?

A. Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold appeared to accept two statements against same-sex behavior that were issued jointly by the world primates this year, since he issued no dissent. But he holds liberal views personally and led Robinson's consecration.

Q. Where does Williams stand and what will he do?

A. He held liberal views as the primate from Wales but now stresses the Anglican consensus and recently coaxed a gay bishop candidate in England to withdraw. He appointed an emergency commission to report by next Sept. 30 on how he should manage the "realignment" provoked by the Americans and a parallel crisis in Canada.

But the crisis could move so swiftly that he is forced to act sooner.

Q. Are non-Anglicans affected?

A. Yes, though indirectly. Anglicanism is a powerful Christian force and has long acted as a bridge between Protestantism and the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches. Now that bridge could collapse.

The Episcopal struggle could also influence other U.S. denominations as they debate gay policy, hoping to avoid the same fate.

Some local churches struggling with issue

Laura Fink and other members of her Kane'ohe church are withholding contributions to the Episcopal Diocese this year in protest of the Episcopal naming of an openly gay man as bishop.

"The past few months have been very difficult for this lifelong Episcopalian," said Fink, who calls herself "discouraged" over the choice of Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Robinson was consecrated this week.

"An overwhelming number of people at this particular church disagree with the action," said the Rev. Joseph Carr, rector at Calvary Episcopal Church in Kane'ohe. "They believe that consecration is wrong, and that they have a different understanding of the scriptures than the people who have been in support of this consecration."

Conservative Anglican leaders in the United States and overseas have already moved closer to a break with the denomination over the first openly gay bishop, who also is the first in any major Christian denomination.

Some Episcopalians in Hawai'i also have voiced their own concerns, including members of a Moloka'i church who met with the Hawai'i bishop, though diocesan officials here say they are the minority.

At Grace Episcopal Church on Moloka'i, the Rev. Lynette Schaefer said the leaders of the congregation, which averages about 100 people at Sunday services, has taken a stand as a body to say the church is moving in the wrong direction, but are trying to work with the diocese before talking about breaking away.

"In our polity, we try to deal with people first, before making a big splash," said Schaefer, who added that 16 church leaders met with Hawai'i Bishop Richard Chang to express their concerns after the August general convention in Minneapolis in which Robinson's election was approved by the denomination.

Schaefer said people are surprised that she, the first woman ordained with the Episcopal Church in Hawai'i in 1977, would fail to be sympathetic to Robinson's situation.

"It's not an issue of sympathy," said Schaefer, who added that Christian ministers outside the church have supported her stand.

At Carr's church, which has an average Sunday attendance of about 200, congregants were offered the choice to redirect their contributions to different charities, thus bypassing the diocese. About 35 have chosen to do so, he said, and the number is climbing.

Asked if the church considered a split, he said: "We're entering a time of realignment of the Episcopal Church. It's happening and will continue to happen with the congregation and larger diocese. ... For us, these are very painful times, because we're family, and family is in disagreement."

Diocesan spokeswoman Sarah Moore said the two churches are in the minority, but the new ground is helping people see what it means to be Episcopalian.

"Anything this hard on a church, well, it's one of the things that's the hallmark of being Episcopalian," she said. "We're working hard at making room for all. Hawai'i is no different than other (dioceses)."

She noted that Hawai'i's representatives who cast Robinson votes backed him unanimously, and that a diocesan official will be meeting with several Episcopalian churches to review the issue with congregants.