The first openly gay Episcopal bishop, whose consecration instigated a global religious controversy, announced today that he would take early retirement, citing stress from the experience.<\/p>\n
Bishop V. Gene Robinson will be 65 when he steps down in January 2013, seven years below the mandatory retirement age for Episcopal bishops.<\/p>\n
Robinson announced his plans at the annual convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in Concord. He said he gave the two-year transition to give the diocese enough time to find and elect a new bishop who will then be subject to approval from the national church.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince the very beginning, I have attempted to discern God\u2019s will for me and for you, and this decision comes after much prayer and discernment about what God wants for us at this time,\u201d\u009d Robinson said in his prepared remarks.<\/p>\n