A number of conservatives in the Episcopal Church USA have walked out of their denomination's national convention in Minneapolis over the election Tuesday night of an openly homosexual bishop. Some of those protesting the confirmation of Gene Robinson as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire are urging Anglican leaders worldwide to intervene in what they call a "pastoral emergency."

According to an Associated Press report, those protesting were among the most vocal critics of Robinson's appointment. Some reportedly dropped to their knees in prayer during legislative sessions, and a "handful" turned in their convention badges and simply left the meeting. In addition, some of the bishops are refusing to attend legislative sessions and vote.

But in an AP interview, Robinson said he believes those who say homosexual sex violates scripture will "come to know that they are wrong, in this life or the next one." He said the protests will have no effect on his ministry; that he feels he is right, has been called by God to become a bishop, and does not plan to give that up simply because of the protests.

Diane Knippers of the Institute on Religion and Democracy was on hand for the final vote on Robinson's confirmation. She believes the Episcopal Church has now entered a period of disarray.

"We're going to feel it in our conservative parishes and dioceses most quickly because, of course, lay people are understandably dismayed and some [are] shocked by the dramatic direction the church took away from the historic Christian doctrine of marriage," she says.

Knippers expects the action will hurt more than the church structure. "It's a terribly disturbing time because we've abandoned church teaching on marriage," she says, "and we really have betrayed young people in our society who have been given so many of the wrong messages about sexuality."

Knippers says Episcopal Church leaders, by their action, abandoned the messages of self-discipline, purity, holiness, and the ideal of marriage found in the holy scriptures.

Reaction Worldwide
Anglicans in many parts of the world are outraged at the confirmation of the openly homosexual bishop. One of Kenya's leading prelates says that by confirming Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire, the Episcopal Church "is alienating itself from the Anglican Communion," adding that, "we cannot be in fellowship with them."

In a statement, Nigeria's Anglican Communion said it is shocked that U.S. Episcopalians would "turn their back on the clear teaching of the Bible." A bishop in Southeast Asia says that nine-nation province may discuss cutting ties with the Episcopal Church next week.

Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen calls Robinson's appointment "catastrophic" and says Americans should withhold donations from the Episcopal Church. But Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is urging opponents to pause and consider "before significant and irrevocable decisions are made."