by Ed Beaven<\/p>\n
The Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev V Gene Robinson, is to enter into a Civil Partnership with his long-term partner just weeks before next year\u2019s Lambeth Conference. The openly gay cleric, whose consecration as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 caused outrage among traditionalist wings of the Anglican Communion and has placed the Church on the brink of schism, unveiled his intention during an interview to be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 next week, in a programme entitled the Choice. Interviewed by Michael Buerk, Bishop Robinson denied the plan to hold the ceremony next June had been chosen to be deliberately provocative.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThe decision to take advantage of the new law that will come into effect in New Hampshire on January 1 is simply our taking advantage of the kinds of rights which are now being made open to gay and lesbian people in New Hampshire. \u201cI am certainly not doing that to rub salt into anyone\u2019s wounds, but no one should expect me to penalise me and my partner when these rights are being offered. \u201cWe were looking for a three-day weekend which would allow people to travel more easily, and that happened to be the fifth anniversary of my election as the Bishop of New Hampshire and thought that would be an appropriate date. \u201cI think the fact is my critics would find any date impermissible.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
He also tells about his love for the Anglican Communion, but said he would never stand down from his role as it would be going against God\u2019s call on his life. He said: \u201cI love the Anglican Church and I value the Communion and I will do everything short of standing down to benefit the Communion.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I will not reject God\u2019s call to me. If I were to disappear tomorrow does anyone think these questions are to go away either for the Episcopal Church or the Anglican Communion? I don\u2019t think so.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
When asked about his thoughts on how his consecration as Bishop had placed the Church on the road to schism, Bishop Robinson admitted that the Episcopal Church may have got it wrong. He said: \u201cThis was not just my doing this was an entire community\u2019s doing, and that community tried its very best to discern the will of God, and we may be wrong, I am ready to admit to you that I cannot be sure that this is the right thing or the right time or the right way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that Peter Akinola, the Archbishop of Nigeria, one of the primary spokespeople against my election, I believe he is following his call from God as best as he can, I just wish he could believe I am following my call from God as best I can.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The interview is on Radio 4 on Tuesday August 28 at 9am U.K. time<\/i><\/p>\n
–This article appears on page 1 of the August 24th, 2007, edition of the Church of England Newspaper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Ed Beaven The Bishop of New Hampshire, the Rt Rev V Gene Robinson, is to enter into a Civil Partnership with his long-term partner just weeks before next year\u2019s Lambeth Conference. The openly gay cleric, whose consecration as Bishop…<\/span><\/p>\n