Gay Rites Movement: Conservative Episcopalians Huffing over the Consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson Are Standing on the Wrong Side of History-Their Own Church's

Wildman, Sarah, The American Prospect

SUNDAY, NOV. 2 DAWNED SUNNY AND hot, more like late spring than mid-autumn. At St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington's posh Georgetown neighborhood, the open doors brought a welcome hit of air to women in sleeveless dresses, who drew shawls loosely about their shoulders. The rector, choir members and seminarians were surely sweating beneath their crisp white robes as they filed in behind a woman carrying a heavy gold cross.

A layperson banded out the day's prayers on photocopied sheets to visitors entering the 18th century building--long a spiritual home to many of Washington's glitterati, including Francis Scott Key, whose portrait graces a wall in an adjoining room. In the pamphlet, a weekly message from the Rev. David Williams reminded congregants that this Sunday was part of All Saints' Day. Then it went on to the meat of the matter--that this Nov. 2 was important to the church for another reason, the consecration of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire. "While politics, orthodoxy, and a variety of opinions about what constitutes the church and its core beliefs may cause fractious conversation," the note read, "one thing will always remain eternal--the love of God and the action of that love through the incarnation of Jesus Christ."

Normally the consecration of a bishop in New Hampshire wouldn't be an issue addressed …

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Publication information: Article title: Gay Rites Movement: Conservative Episcopalians Huffing over the Consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson Are Standing on the Wrong Side of History-Their Own Church's. Contributors: Wildman, Sarah - Author. Magazine title: The American Prospect. Volume: 14. Issue: 11 Publication date: December 2003. Page number: 15+. © 1999 The American Prospect, Inc. COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.

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