By Jim Brown and Jody Brown
June 24, 2003

(AgapePress) - A conservative Episcopal group is denouncing the election of an openly homosexual man to serve as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. At the same time, the Episcopal bishop of Washington is saying the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality is antiquated.

Earlier this month, the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire chose Gene Robinson to be the state's bishop, despite the fact that he left his wife and two daughters to live in a homosexual relationship. Reports indicate it is a foregone conclusion that his election will be approved at the national meeting of the Episcopal Church in Minneapolis, which begins July 30.

Bishop John Chane, head of the Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., believes that the Holy Spirit guided Robinson's election. And according to Associated Press, Chane is convinced the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality is outdated and has been replaced by the love of Jesus reflected in the Gospels. He notes that scripture passages condemning homosexuality come from the Old Testament and the apostle Paul -- who he says merely echoed the older writings.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams -- who heads the World Anglican Community, which includes the Episcopal church -- says the appointment of a British homosexual bishop does not violate the Church of England's teaching on homosexuality. Williams says he does not regard Jeffrey John's appointment as an attempt "to pre-empt, undermine, or short-circuit the reflection of the church as a whole."

Not Surprised
Bruce Mason with the American Anglican Council says Robinson's election flies in the face of God's requirements of a bishop outlined in the New Testament, but that he is not at all surprised at the development. Mason says it is unfortunate, but his denomination has been conforming to the culture rather than heeding God's commands.

"There are many in the Episcopal Church who do not see the scripture as the Word of God that's unchanging over time," Mason says. "They view it as something that can be changed to fit our needs as the culture changes and as social mores perhaps change -- and that's certainly not what we believe at the AAC and what the Bible tells us."

Mason says it is difficult to encourage New Hampshire Episcopalians to "endure" the leadership of Robinson, who has been in a homosexual relationship for the last 15 years.

"How do you stay part of a diocese or part of a church that has embraced these issues?" he asks. "It many cases, it really comes down to one's own conviction about what God wants them to do -- and we encourage people to pray about their individual circumstances to see where God might be leading them."

Elsewhere, Anglican bishops in Australia are denouncing the appointments of both John and Robinson as well as a Canadian diocese's decision to allow blessing ceremonies for homosexual couples.

Bishop Robert Forsyth tells Associated Press that those responsible "have abandoned the teaching of Scripture" and are no longer welcome in the Sydney diocese. The Sydney bishop said the church should offer clear biblical guidance instead of caving in to modern cultural pressures.

Associated Press contributed to this story.

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