DURHAM, N.H. - The Episcopal Church became the first major Christian denomination to make an openly gay man a bishop, consecrating V. Gene Robinson yesterday as bishop of New Hampshire. The act almost certainly means disgruntled conservatives will break from the church.
Robinson, 56, became a bishop when the 55 other bishops attending his consecration surrounded him for the laying on of hands.
The historic moment came more than an hour into the ceremony and after two Episcopal clerics took advantage of the traditional opportunity to object.
Conservatives have made moves to split the church because of Robinson, and leaders of the global Anglican Communion have said his consecration puts their worldwide association, with 77 million members, in jeopardy.
Assistant Bishop David Bena of Albany, N.Y., spoke for 36 opposing bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church of Canada. They said they and most bishops in the international Anglican Communion will not recognize Robinson as a fellow bishop.
Reading from a statement, Bena said Robinson's 'chosen lifestyle' is incompatible with Scripture and the teaching of this church.
Bena spoke after Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold asked if there was any reason why we should not proceed
a traditional part of Episcopal consecration services.
The Rev. Earle Fox from the Pittsburgh Diocese also objected. But when he began citing specifics of same-sex behavior, Griswold politely cut him off, saying please spare us the details and come to the substance.
In all, the objections took about 10 minutes.
The consecration took place before an audience of about 4,000 at a University of New Hampshire sports arena. Outside, a handful of anti- and pro-gay demonstrators were kept apart by police. Armed officers also stood on the roof.
Dissenting traditionalists held a competing Communion service at a nearby church.
The consecration sermon by New Hampshire's retiring Bishop Douglas Theuner was interrupted twice by vigorous applause as he defended Robinson's gay commitment against detractors.
Theuner said Robinson will stand as a symbol of the unity of the church in a way none of the rest of us can because he will bring into our fellowship an entire group of Christians hitherto unacknowledged in the church.
Though there have been gay bishops in the past, all were closeted when they were elevated to their posts. Robinson has been open about his 14-year relationship with his partner throughout the process in which he won election to the new post.
A national association for conservatives opposed to ordaining gays, the American Anglican Council, says parishioners already were drifting away in protest of Robinson's elevation. The group plans to hold the denomination's conservative flank together by building a network of confessing dioceses and congregations.
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Tim Boyd/ The Associated Press
Worshipers walk by protesters yesterday in Durham, N.H., to see consecration services for Bishop-elect V. Gene Robinson. Robinson is the Episcopalian's first openly gay bishop. 17
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Worshipers walk by protesters yesterday in Durham, N.H. to see consecration services for Bishop-elect V. Gene Robinson. Robinson is the Episcopaian's first openly gay bishop.
