As news of his retirement made headlines around the globe, Bishop V. Gene Robinson paid a quiet visit to a small parish in Wolfeboro, N.H., yesterday, leading services for a vacationing rector and meeting with the church board, but only briefly mentioning that he was stepping down as leader of the state’s Episcopal Diocese.
Friends and parishioners say it was typical Robinson, who remained the approachable, empathetic, and motivated spiritual leader that many in the state know simply as Gene, even as he became an international figure at the center of a rift in the Anglican Communion and a target for death threats which, he acknowledged in a speech Saturday, have exacted a price.
“The fact is, the last seven years have taken their toll on me, my family, and you,’’ Robinson, 63, told the annual convention of his diocese, disclosing that he will step down in January 2013 after nearly a decade as bishop, nearly seven years shy of the mandatory 72-year-old retirement age. “Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop, have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years.’’
RE: “but only briefly mentioning that he was stepping down as leader of the state’s Episcopal Diocese . . . ”
Gotta love that.
[Just wanted to mention again . . . [i]I’m leaving[/i]. Just heading out. Yep — just in case anyone didn’t notice when I made my big speech at convention announcing my departure [i]two plus years early[/i].]
What a hoot.
[Did I mention that I’m leaving?]
Gag. This publicity hound and the fawning press that give him his bully pulpit for glorifying perversion are so tiresome.
The Quiet Country Bishop would be less tired and stressed if he had not traveled to 100+ gay prides and similar events since taking the mitre.
I also enjoyed his use of the word “now” in his phrase “the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop.” Apparently, in Gene’s fantasy world, the controversy only became world wide a few months ago. That, in spring 2003, the entire Anglican world across six continents (I make a possible exception for Antartica) was begging GC 2003 not to elevate Gene to bishop — this is apparently an invention of the terrible right wing blogosphere, who only now have managed to make this an issue of global concern.
It’s actually the reverse — Gene was indeed personally the center of worldwide controversy in 2003 and 2004, but *now* he’s a figure that people are pretty bored by, including orthodox folks overseas. Maybe, as Sarah suggests, he’s really missing the spotlight and feels the need to do grab it again.
Book tour, book tour, late night TV, Comedy Central, NPR,,,,,,,the opptys are endless……..
I hope any traditional clergy from NH who were called into Robinson’s office and berated by him for not performing gay blessings or “marriages” will have the guts to write in here. I heard they felt a lot of his “love”.
I am truly sick of “I disagree with that” being spun into “You’re making me a victim”. “I disagree with that” is no more–it is not bigotry, oppression, or even insecurity-ridden, agenda-driven, self-absorbed idiocy.
My two-year-old deals better with being told “no” than some of these people. And most of the time, “no” is said out of love.
Sarah #1, how much attention do you think there will be over those two years?
The read the whole Boston Globe piece and was really sickened by it. Honestly I’d find it queasy-making even if I were a reappraiser. It’s hagiography, not journalism. I’m really surprised that the Globe would publish something like this as a news piece.
Hey — just wanted to pop in to this thread and mention that I’m leaving.
Just “briefly mentioning” that again, you know — in case anybody missed it.
If he says one more time that his life was threatened, I think I’ll scream. Since he doesn’t have a security detail and he has gone to literally 100’s of open events around the world, if somebody was seriously threatening him, he’d be dead. On second thought, I think I’ll scream anyway. It won’t get rid of VGR, but I’ll feel better. Hang on one moment please–there–I do feel better.
[blockquote]I’m really surprised that the Globe would publish something like this as a news piece.[/blockquote]
Well, me, I’m not so surprised. There is an counterpoint to the Globe; the Herald has somewhat plainer coverage: First gay Episcopal bishop to retire in 2013
(Kendall thank you for allowing comments)
Isn’t it best to just ignore the whole VGR saga? It seems like the more attention he gets, the worse off we all are.
If it wasn’t for that whole salvation thing this drama queen act would be quite entertaining.
Let’s see…getting back to basics…hmm, here it is:
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called ‘woman,’
for she was taken out of man.â€
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Back to basics!
I suspect that VGR will fade – not quietly perhaps – but fade because his “charisma” was merely circumstantial, and now, other issues will force TEC hand – the lack of money and loss of membership e.g. Did he help TEC in fact? He was public enough but I can see very little he did that actually benefited TEC. He is like Rosa Parks, but much less significant, much less influential and therefore much less important. He will leave no real legacy, only one more chapter in the history of opportunism.
I have to say, however, “my beloved husband” is enough to make me throw up. What a loathsome phrase! How can anyone read that and not be repulsed. Larry
Perhaps the ABC 0f the CoE will take him to replace the departing-for-Rome bishops and fulfill the ABC’s apparent-by-his-inaction approval of this simple country bishop – you know, a sinecure, like Lee from DioVA to the West Coast somewhereorother.
West Coast somewhereorother? How about interim dean at Grace Cathedral, followed by dean of General Theological Seminary?
And all he had to do was stand aside and let TEC sue some conservative Christians. ( I expect that the alternative would have been unpleasant). But the powers at 851 seem to reward their cooperative subordinates well , as lone as they acquiesce to being subordinate anyway. I expect to see Robinson rewarded with a nice little sinecure somewhere where he can’t do any more damage with his outlandish shoes.