wfn.org | Unexpected Support for Episcopal Church Action

[ecimafonte@episcopalchurch.org]

11-01-2003

Unexpected Support for Episcopal Church Action

By Dan England and Matthew Davies

[Episcopal News Service] On the eve of the consecration of Canon V Gene
Robinson as Bishop-coadjutor of the Diocese of New Hampshire and the first
openly gay bishop in the Anglican Communion, a twist. 

It seems students from the University of Durham in New Hampshire, will be
protesting conservative protestors tomorrow by staging their own
demonstration and calling for "a more realistic and broadminded approach" to
the current stance on homosexuality in the Church. One of the students, a 21
year-old woman called Nika with a hard-to-miss silver ring in her bottom
lip, told ACNS/ENS that she had never been to church, but was joining the
protest. "I am very spiritual," she said, "but I'm not much for organised
religion." Asked if she'd consider actually going to a church that took this
kind of action, she said, "Yeah, I think I would. Yeah, I'll have to give it
a try."

The American Anglican Council (AAC) will be sending two representatives to
Durham, New Hampshire during this weekend's consecration. The Revd Canon Dr
Kendall S. Harmon, Canon Theologian for the Diocese of South Carolina, and
the Rt Revd David Bena, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Albany, will be
providing support for New Hampshire Episcopalians grieved by the actions of
their diocese and to also stand with them in opposition to the consecration.

Ever since the 74th General Convention in Minneapolis, there has been a
superabundance of opinion that has turned into a struggle over the true
nature of the Anglican Communion. The conservative contingency at tomorrow's
consecration will be positioning themselves to contend and protest what they
see as the demise of traditional scripture while others will be observing
what they feel is a remarkable turning point in the history of the church.
The student protesters, many of whom are without religious affiliation, go
blank when asked about the view of the Bible on the question, but seem
united that "it's about time" when commenting on the event.