No Invitation for Bishop Robinson

On Monday, in the midst of the House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen, Gene Robinson learned that he would not be allowed to fully participate with the other Anglican bishops at the Lambeth Conference beginning in July.  Attempts to persuade the Archbishop of Canterbury to allow him full access to the conference were unsuccessful.  Robinson regretfully declined the limited participation that he was offered.  But still he was not bitter.  Archbishop Desmond Tutu notes that "Gene Robinson breathtakingly says of those opposing him, who have been vituperative or worse, that they are all (including him) desined for heaven.  Our Lord must smile to have such a splendid representative in an affair that has often been sordid."

Bishop Robinson graciously acknowledged the pain felt by others at the House of Bishops meeting, including Bishop Love of our Diocese of Albany.  Of course there are differences in their situations, and the degrees of pain.  Bishop Love has not been denied a place at Lambeth solely because of who he is, as has Bishop Robinson.  Furthermore, Bishop Robinson has not countenanced or encouraged disrespect for the leadership of The Episcopal Church, as is the pattern of official behavior in the Diocese of Albany.  Bishop Robinson's diocese has not officially associated with groups attempting to subvert the auhority of The Episcopal Church, as has the Diocese of Albany.

Bishop Robinson's edited remarks to the House of Bishops follow:

My own pain (over the Lambeth decision) was sufficient enough that for 36 hours I felt the compelling urge to run, to flee.  My inspiration for staying came from my conservative brothers in this house.  I have seen John Howe (Bishop of Central Florida) and Ed Salmon(former Bishop of South Carolina) and others show up for years when there was a lot of pain for them.  I see Bill Love and Mark Lawrence (Bishop of South Carolina), and I know that it is a very difficult thing for them to be here right now.  For me, the worst sin is leaving the table.  And that is what I was on the verge of doing.  But, largely because of you, I stayed.  Thank you for that.

I want to tell you why I declined the invitation as it was proposed.  I really had high hopes that something might work out.  I have been talking with the Anglican Communion Office for almost a year now.  I got my first phone call four days before the invitations to Lambeth went out.  I thought something would work out.

One workshop on one afternoon, and being interviewed by the secular press was not anything I was seeking.  I wasn't going to Lambeth to have another interview with the secular press.  If interviewed at all, I want to talk with a theologian.  I want to talk about the love of Christ.  I want to talk about the God who saved me and redeemed me and continues to to live in my life.  I want to talk about the Jesus I know in my life.

I am dismayed and sick hearted that we can't sit around a table, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and study Scripture together.

I ask two things of you:  Some of you have indicated that if I am not invited you won't go either. I want to say loud and clear - you must go.  You must find your voice.  And somehow you must find my voice and the voices of all the gay and lesbian people in your diocese who, for now, don't have a voice in this setting.  I'd much rather be talked to than talked about.  But you must go and tell the stories of your people,faithful members of your flock who happen to be lesbian and gay.

For God's sake, don't stay away.

And second, don't let them separate me from you.  Please don't let that happen.  It will be difficult, and we will have to be intentional.  I know that the last thing you will need at the end of the day is another meeting just so I can catch up with you.  But I hope you will be willing to stay in touch with me.

Pray for me.  I will need that.  A lot.

These are words of reconciliation from a man who has been excluded from the councils of the Church simply because... well, because he is open and honest about who he is. 

Pray for our Church.

(Thanks to the Rev. Chris Smith for suggesting this topic - editor)

Comments

[Richard Angelo]

It is , in my opinion, a sad day for the Anglican Communion when we continue to exclude those called by God and by the Church to serve the Lord and God's people. The so-called " listening process" is a sham since no one has the chance to be heard! I am proud of Bishop Robinson and deeply grieved that he has not been included especially since +Akinola , who if we remind ourselves, has been at the forefront of supporting much of what I would consider un-Christ like behavior.I pray that other Bishops will continue the call for more Christ like behavior as they meet in Lambeth!