Gay bishops

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Gene Robinson lived with his male partner for 13 years before his election as Bishop of New Hampshire[1]
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In some cases, there have been reports that certain male Anglican bishops are homosexual. However, the only church to ever consecrate an openly gay bishop who was not celibate was the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a member of the Anglican Communion. Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson is the first non-celibate gay man who has been elected a bishop after his homosexuality became widely known. He was elected Episcopalian Bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003, and took office on March 7, 2004.[1]

Several other Anglican bishops have been gay, but closeted or celibate while bishop. Episcopalian Bishop Otis Charles came out as gay after his retirement.[2] He had been a Bishop in Utah from 1971 to 1993.

Bishop Mervyn Castle was consecrated Bishop of False Bay (a suffragan of the diocese of Cape Town) in 1994, but because most Anglicans outside South Africa were unaware of his homosexuality, and because he was celibate, no comparable controversy took place. Bishop Mervyn Stockwood, who was gay, was bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Southwark, but also celibate. He even gently rebuked a parish vicar for initiating blessing of same-sex unions in the late 1970s.

When Peter Tatchell threatened Archbishop David Hope with "outing" in 1995 as part of the much criticized outrage! campaign, Hope acknowledged that his sexuality is "a grey area", and that he had "sought to lead a celibate life" and is "perfectly happy and content".

In 2003, Jeffrey John was appointed to the post of Bishop of Reading (a suffragan of the Bishop of Oxford).[1] John stood down under pressure from the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams in the ensuing controversy. He is in a relationship with another male priest, and says that it has been celibate in nature for several years.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ a b c The Guardian, 2003. "The Guardian profile: Gene Robinson", Stephen Bates, October 31, 2003. Retrieved on September 1, 2006.
  2. ^ LGBT Religious Archives Network, Profiles. Retrieved on September 12, 2006.
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