Gene Robinson (born May 29, 1947) is Bishop Coadjutor of the Episcopal Church diocese of New Hampshire. He was elected in 2003 and is scheduled to take office in 2004. Mr. Robinson has served as assistant to the retiring New Hampshire bishop. [1]
Robinson is best known for becoming the first openly non-celibate gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, and the entire Anglican Communion (of which the Episcopal Church is a part).
Robinson was born in Lexington, Kentucky. His family attended the Disciples of Christ church, as did he. He later attended the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, which was owned by the Episcopal Church, and soon became involved in Episcopal religious life. He graduated in 1969 with a degree in American Studies and History. He then began a degree in Divinity at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York, which he completed in 1973.
He moved to New Hampshire in 1975 and became Canon to the Ordinary in 1988.
While attending the Seminary, he chose to undergo therapy to rid himself of homosexual thoughts. The therapy was unsuccessful, but in 1972 he married, despite these doubts about his sexuality, of which he had informed his fiancée. After having two daughters, Gene publicly came out as homosexual, and the couple divorced in 1986, but remained close. Around 1989, Robinson met his current partner, Mark Andrews.
Robinson was elected as bishop by the New Hampshire diocese on June 7, 2003. As this occurred within 120 days of the Episcopal General Convention, it required ratification there, rather than by the alternative process of diocesan standing committees.
The General Convention of 2003 therefore became the centre for debate over Robinson's election, as conservatives and liberals argued over whether a gay man should be allowed to become bishop. Some conservative elements warned of a schism within both the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion should Robinson be elected.
Robinson won the first two of three votes required for his election to be ratified, but allegations suddenly arose on August 4 to the effect that he had "inappropriately touched" David Lewis, an adult male parishioner, on two occasions, and also had connections with outright.org, which at the time carried a link to allthingsbi.com, a resource site for bisexual people that included links to pornography sites. The final vote was postponed.
Robinson was already known as being involved with Outright, a secular organisation for the support of young gay people. On the day the allegations arose, the website issued a press release [1] stating that it had removed the offending link, that it had been unaware of the pornographic links on allthingsbi.com, and that Robinson had no involvement with the design of Outright's website.
David Lewis, of Manchester, Vermont, who made the "touching" allegation, clarified that the touching in question was on the arm and the back, in a public setting, and acknowledged that, while the contact made him uncomfortable, others could regard the two incidents as "natural". He said he regretted having used the word "harassment" in his e-mail, and declined an invitation to bring formal charges.
The investigation was concluded on August 5, with Robinson cleared of the allegations, and the final vote was scheduled for the same day. Robinson was confirmed, receiving 62 votes in favour, and 45 against. He was consecrated on November 2, 2003, amid continuing objections, some of which were aired at the service.
Robinson's appointment prompted a group of nineteen bishops, led by Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, to make a statement warning the church of a possible schism between the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. This sentiment was later echoed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who said that the decision would likely have an impact upon the Communion, but that it was too early to discern the effects. [1] However retired South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu said that he did not what what "all the fuss" was about, saying it was not an issue that would cause problems in the South African Anglican Church.
See also: Anglican views of homosexualityBackground
Election as bishop
Allegations of impropriety
Confirmation as bishop
Ramifications for the Anglican Communion
