Robinson’s election as bishop in 2003 was a seismic event in the worldwide Anglican Communion, whose U.S. branch is the Episcopal Church. It prompted dozens of U.S. congregations and several dioceses to leave the church and affiliate with more conservative Anglican churches overseas.
Christopher Sugden, a British Anglican who is executive secretary of Anglican Mainstream, a group that promotes orthodox teachings, said the communion remained divided by the decision to consecrate gay bishops.
“His retirement doesn’t change anything,” Sugden said. “The issue is the refusal of the Episcopal Church to adhere to the agreed doctrinal standards of the communion, and their leadership’s determination to promote, and in North America to enforce, ethical and doctrinal standards that are contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture as received by the universal church. They have chosen to walk apart.”
To Robinson’s supporters, that break is a badge of courage. Margaret Porter, moderator of New Hampshire’s Episcopal Diocesan Council, said there had been little regret over Robinson’s selection and much sadness over his early departure.
RE: “”Gene initially simply wanted to be the bishop of New Hampshire . . ”
Hah hah.
I wonder if most of the activist TEC libs now recognize how pathological he is? You gotta believe that they had private conversations hoping that he wouldn’t be so obvious about the narcissism, but then at some point they must have realized that it wasn’t going to ever be scaled back and they’d have to live with his craving and desperate need.
Say, I may have mentioned it once or twice before in other venues, but I’m leaving 2.5 years from now.
Just wanted to make certain people knew and made preparations, and so forth. Didn’t want anyone to be blindsided and shocked, so I’m making these periodic announcements just in case. You can hold off on the gasps and cries of “no” though in the convention hall — other than the thousands around the world who adore me, I’m just one of the Little People, content to be one of the masses.
[No address change is needed for the fan mail — send to the same diocesan office. We’ll be publicizing a new address after my departure . . . which . . . have I mentioned that I’m leaving 2.5 years from now?]
Hey Sarah, did you hear that Bishop Robinson had to wear a bullet proof vest at his consecration? I know it’s hard to believe but it’s true. You may not have heard about that before because Bishop Robinson is too humble to mention it. But yes, it’s true. Bishop Robinson has, like the martyrs of old who faced death in the arena, looked squarely into the gaping maw of mortality.
I had heard that, Matt — but only a few hundred times, I think. It certainly bears repeating in case anyone had missed it.
But you know, worse than the death threats and the vest was the terrible strain of being forced to be an international icon when all he ever wanted was to simply serve the people in New Hampshire, not as a gay bishop, mind you — far far from it — but as simply Gene.
But you know . . . if not me, then who? It is hard to be a martyr, the Primary Martyr Icon of an oppressed minority, of course, but I must square my jaw and do it. I take comfort — despite being an oppressed minority and a persecuted martyr — in the millions and millions of people around the world Who All Love Me.
Being an oppressed minority is tough — but the opposition to same-sex sex is but a teensy number of small, bigoted neanderthals whom all the right-thinking world rightly recognizes are entirely wrong.
. . . I don’t know if anyone recalls this or not, but I had to wear a bullet-proof vest at my consecration.
Also, I received any number of death threats.
And did I tell you I’m retiring in 2.5 years?
Of course he’s retiring. Mission accomplished. Church destroyed. That was the goal from the beginning right?
Surely the wearing of the vest would only be newsworthy if someone had taken a shot? To put a vest on is very simple but it does not prove the existence of those out to get you….mind you it paints a wonderful picture of martyred torture for the (so called) progressive wing….
[i] Please suspend the cynicism. [/i]
-Elf
How many bishops serve to age 72 anymore? My perception is that 65 or so is the most common age. I know that Bishop Noble C. Powell of Maryland (who approved me as a postulant) served to 72 but I do not recall any others in the past 40 years.
Dear TomRightmyer:
My godly bishop, John-David Schofield, (now Anglican) Diocese of San Joaquin is still serving and he turned 72 in October, just an FYI.
Grace and Peace!
Deacon Francie
This may be too cynical for the elves.I don’t know. But cataloging his risks and his troubles at al., over and over, (Like Paul LePage, Maine’s new governor, and his childhood woes in the welfare system) ceases at some point from being information and becomes boasting, vanity hiding beneath an assumed humilty. LGR is practicing a reverse exhibitionism that allows the practitioner to show himself off by pretending to do the opposite. Why do I reach this conclusion? Because he has done this sort of thing so often before, and we have seen his love of self-display over and over.
He is no martyr; he is alive and well, and his courage is the bravado of the well protected. Because I am not particularly brave myself, I recognize, with envy, the real thing in others. But this also measures my contempt when I see an ersatz similcrum. Larry
As someone has pointed out on another site – if it’s the death threats that have weighed heavily on him, shall we expect him to fade from the public eye after his retirement? After all, why put himself, his “husband” and others at risk by continuing to be a spokesperson for the advancement of the “rights” of gays in the church?
Won’t be holding my breath.
Darin+
This starts to sound like Cher or Barbara Streisand advertising the latest, really, really, last one, farewell tour. Absolutely, last chance..It gets much more coverage than clergy who leave ECUSA in mid career to become ACNA, Catholic or Orthodox. They leave stability, income, pension benefits, the works. For what most people will call higher reasons than Robinson. Bishop Spong has continued writing, look for Robinson to do likewise.
I’m actually going to say that I don’t think announcing retirement 2 1/2 years in advance is all that bad. My bishop, +Henry Parsley, announced in February that he’s retiring at the end of 2011 – that’s two years in advance. And the Alabama election won’t be all that contentious or controversial. I suppose NH’s could be.
I was struck by TomRightmyer’s comment on the age of retirement for bishops. +Henry will be 63 when he retires.
I’m with #13 – Announcing your retirement at the Diocesan Convention with enough lead time for discernment & search committee work seems entirely appropriate.
Peace,
-ms
Dear Bishop Robinson,
We can’t miss you if you won’t leave.
Sincerely,
The rest of us
Is it just my imagination, or since 2003 have both priests and bishops been retiring from TEC positions as soon as possible once they are fully vested in the Church Pension Fund, because they fear how soon that retirement income scheme will collapse?
A 2.5 year lead time is not all that strange, which only makes the teary reaction of the crowd and the breathless response of the media that much sillier. But “Bishop of New Hampshire Calls for Election of Coadjutor” just doesn’t sell papers like “First Gay Episcopal Bishop Announces Imminent Retirement!”
The Church Pension Fund says they have enough money to pay pensions for all those who are now retired. The pension for a priest who has served 30 years is about 45 per cent of salary and housing 3 years or so before retirement. The formula is 1.5 per cent times years of credited service times highest average compensation. But the number of full time church jobs is dropping with attendance. Most parishioners are in larger churches; most churches are small and more and more are officially part time. And more and more clergy came to ordained ministry in mid-life with only 10 to 15 years left to serve. Parish ministry appears to be more stressful than it used to be, in part because parishioners expect clergy to present and manage programs.
“…the refusal of the Episcopal Church to adhere to the agreed doctrinal standards of the communion …”
[b]When did we agree to them? Oh that’s right … we haven’t.[/b]