Bishop's consecration set to split Anglicans

Anglicans in the US plan to go ahead with the consecration of an openly gay bishop in defiance of a warning that it could “tear the fabric” of the Church and jeopardise its continued union.

The warning following a meeting of Anglican leaders in London yesterday that the consecration of the Rev Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire will put the Anglican Communion in jeopardy has not changed the views of the state’s Episcopalians.

“I just think Gene will make a great bishop,” said Susan Milliken, an Episcopalian from Concord.

Canon Robinson was not immediately available for comment. He has said little since his confirmation in an effort to avoid antagonising Anglican leaders.

“He’s mentally and physically and spiritually preparing himself for the next couple of weeks,” said spokesman Michael Barwell.

In a statement, the New Hampshire Diocese said that while “we grieve that others in the Anglican Communion have felt deep pain with these issues”, it looks forward to Canon Robinson’s consecration.

“Robinson was elected based on his nearly three decades of ministry in the diocese, his considerable pastoral skills, and his vision for ministry. His sexuality was incidental to his call to serve as our bishop,” the statement said.

“We look forward to the consecration of Bishop-elect Robinson … believing that God has called him to this ministry,” it said.

New Hampshire Episcopalians elected Canon Robinson as their bishop in June. US church leaders confirmed his election in August.

“When we elected Gene Robinson as our next bishop, it was not to make a political statement but because he’s had 17 years of faithful service to the diocese and because we recognised the quality of his gifts and the depth of his faith,” said the Rev Tim Rich, who would serve as the new bishop’s assistant.

The Episcopalians are the American arm of the Anglican Communion, and conservatives sought to reprimand or exclude Episcopalians over their growing acceptance of gays.

The gathering at Lambeth Palace in England called by the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams stopped short of that but allowed for the possibility of a future division within the denomination.

The statement by Anglican leaders asks provinces, or national churches, to “make adequate provision for Episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities … in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Canon Robinson is scheduled to be consecrated as the next bishop of New Hampshire at a ceremony on November 2 in Durham.

The Rev David Roseberry of Christ Church in Plano, Texas, said on Wednesday that the American Anglican Council, which represents US conservatives, plans to send a representative to the ceremony to make a formal protest during the time in the service when the bishop allows objectors to speak.

Many of Canon Robinson’s local supporters say his sexual orientation stopped being an issue in his home state long ago, and they’re surprised at the depth of the anger it has drawn elsewhere.

He has been living with his partner, Mark Andrew, for 14 years. He has two daughters and remains on good terms with his ex-wife and grown children.

“We were aware of the fact that it would cause great controversy. I don’t think any of us thought it was going to be as big an issue as it is,” said Bishop Douglas Theuner.