From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


ACNS3535 Episcopal deputies approve openly gay Bishop-elect


From "Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>
Date Mon, 4 Aug 2003 02:49:39 +0100

ACNS 3535     |     USA     |	  3 AUGUST 2003 

Episcopal deputies approve openly gay Bishop-elect

by Matthew Davies 

The House of Deputies at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church,
USA (ECUSA) voted this afternoon to consent to Canon Gene Robinson's
election as Bishop-coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire. The final
decision now rests with the House of Bishops, which will take up Canon
Robinson's consent at 2pm on Monday. 

In a vote by orders, lay deputies voted 63 in favour and 32 against,
with 13 votes being divided. Clergy deputies voted 65 in favour, 31
against and 12 divided. The vote by orders meant that each diocese had
one vote each in clerical and lay orders. The adoption required a
majority in the affirmative in each order. If the diocesan vote in
either order was divided, it was recorded and not added to the
affirmative total, effectively counting in the negative. 

Speaking at a press conference shortly after the vote by orders took
place, the Revd George Werner, President of the House of Deputies, said,
"God and scripture are so much bigger than us. The message it [the vote]
sends is that our God is not a one dimensional God." He added that he
has never felt as uplifted in prayer as he has this week and his hope is
that "the Anglican Communion will understand we are doing the best to
discern God's will". 

The American Anglican Council issued a statement responding to the vote
saying that it is "deeply grieved by the decision" and that it is "a
tragic decision that leads the Episcopal Church to the brink of
shattering the Anglican family". 

Canon Gene Robinson talked to the media afterwards saying that he looked
forward to tomorrow's vote and to being a symbol for God and the church.

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 6,000 journalists and other readers around
the world.  For subscription information please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html


Browse month . . . Browse month (sort by Source) . . . Advanced Search & Browse . . . WFN Home