Conservatives protest election of first openly gay bishop

MINNEAPOLIS -- Conservative opponents of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop protested Wednesday by boycotting legislative sessions, turning in their convention credentials and dropping to their knees in prayer as one of their leaders denounced his election.

A handful of the more than 800 clergy and lay delegates either walked off the floor of the meeting or collectively stayed away, while at least three of the nearly 300 bishops refused to participate or went home, saying their distraught parishioners needed them.

Other delegates dropped to their knees and prayed as the Rev. Kendall Harmon said in a speech that many were "mourning" the convention's approval of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as New Hampshire's bishop.

"This unilateral action on our part is catastrophic," said Harmon, surrounded by more than 20 supporters in the House of Deputies, a legislative body composed of clergy and lay people.

'A terrible mistake'

"We weep for the Episcopal Church and its members. We have made a terrible mistake."

Robinson was confirmed Tuesday after he was cleared of last-minute misconduct allegations that threatened to delay the vote.

In an interview earlier Wednesday with The Associated Press, Robinson said he hoped his critics would not leave the church, though he disagrees with their view that gay sex violates Scripture.

"I think they're wrong about this," he said. "I think they'll come to know that they are wrong, in this life or the next one."

Robinson said he values diversity within Anglicanism and hoped his critics will too. The Episcopal Church, with 2.3 million members, is the U.S. branch of the 77 million-member global Anglican Communion.

Anglicans in many parts of the world reacted angrily Wednesday to Robinson's confirmation, with some threatening to cut ties with the American church. The Anglicans' spiritual leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, appealed for opponents not to act rashly but acknowledged it would inevitably have a "significant impact" on the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The opponents in Minneapolis, however, insisted they remained within the church and were simply rejecting the convention vote.

The demonstrations in Minneapolis were not coordinated and their scope was difficult to measure. Robinson's supporters said the protesters belong to some of the most conservative dioceses which had felt alienated from the national leadership long before the gay clergyman was even a candidate.

"I am firmly of the opinion that schism is not inevitable," said the Rev. Susan Russell, executive director of Claiming the Blessing, an Episcopal gay advocacy group.

However, the Rev. Ian Douglas, a professor at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and a delegate to the House of Deputies, said the protests were small but notable for their intensity. About a dozen delegates put ashes on their foreheads -- a sign of mourning and penance.

Harmon was nearly breathless with anger as he outlined what he saw as the danger to the church. The Rev. Ephraim Radner, rector of the Church of Ascension in Pueblo, Colo., said he felt "profound sorrow and trembling reluctance" as he turned over his delegate badge.

"That's a pretty significant protest for us," Douglas said. "We tend to be less imbued with the outbursts of emotion than some Christian traditions."

Douglas said he also knew of many more people who were troubled by Robinson's election who decided to stay at the General Convention to make their voices heard. The meeting runs through Friday.

The American Anglican Council, which represents conservative Episcopalians, planned a meeting Oct. 7-9 in Plano, Texas, to decide their next move.

The council organized a worship service Wednesday for those who reject Robinson's ratification. About 300 people participated, some weeping openly during prayer.

Robinson's victory drew quick denunciations Wednesday from conservatives in other U.S. denominations, including the Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod and the Southern Baptist Convention.

At the same time, gay rights advocates claimed Robinson's confirmation as a major victory. Robinson said he attended a gathering of gay Episcopalians Tuesday night where some were in tears, saying their gay children had called to tell them they would now return to the church.

"I was blown away for what this meant to those who were gathered there," Robinson told the AP.

If conservatives do decide to break away, it was unclear what that would mean for the church. Some parishes could split from their dioceses and refuse to recognize clergy who support homosexuality, but stop short of a complete separation.

A full schism would trigger, among other things, bitter fights over parish assets and undercut the global influence of the U.S. church.

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