The Episcopal Church bishop Gene Robinson is one of my heroes. In the Times Online interview "Without gay priests the Church would be lost says Bishop Gene," there's this poignant quote:
He said many of the English church's clergy lived openly in their rectories with gay partners, with the full knowledge of their bishops. But he criticised the stance of bishops who threaten the clergy with emnity should their relationships become public.
Speaking in an interview in London, Bishop Gene said: "I have met so many gay partnered clergy here and it is so troubling to hear them tell me that their bishop comes to their house for dinner, knows fully about their relationship, is wonderfully supportive but has also said if this ever becomes public then I’m your worst enemy.
"It’s a terrible way to live your life and I think it’s a terrible way to be a church. I think integrity is so important. What does it mean for a clergy person to be in a pulpit calling the parishioners to a life of integrity when they can’t even live a life of integrity with their own bishop and their own church? So I would feel better about the Church of England’s stance, its reluctance to support The Episcopal Church in what it has done if it would at least admit that this not an American problem and just an American challenge. If all the gay people stayed away from church on a given Sunday the Church of England would be close to shut down between its organists, its clergy, its wardens.....it just seems less than humble not to admit that."
It does seem that for whatever reasons Bishop Robinson has refrained from actually encouraging gay clergy and religious and laity to "stay away from church on a given Sunday" to test his theory. If the bishop were truly serious about changing the Church by demonstrating the collective power of gays, then he should be doing more than simply observing the value of a "strike". He should be organizing one.
Meanwhile, the usual suspects at GetReligion have pounced on the Robinson interview with the delight of inquisitorial bloodhounds. Robinson's crime: a candid acknowledgment that at one point early in his spiritual formation he was encouraged to only say the words of the Nicean creed that he personally agreed with. Robinson's point is that religion can encourage a healthy attitude of questioning that allows individuals the space to grow in their faith and understanding of doctrine without getting stuck in authoritarian models that would hinder their rite of passage. Of course, witchhunting religionists who follow the footsteps of Terry Mattingly find Robinson's openness unnerving. It seems obvious to this observer that those who are stuck in authoritarian models of religiosity are enemies of religion as a conveyor belt of personal and spiritual development. They will put up every obstacle possible in the way of children and adolescents actually emerging from their childlike faith into an adult, questioning faith appropriate for their own increasing level of sophistication. They force the most subtle thinkers out of the church for questioning ancient dogma. Such conservative religionists are secularism's best friend.
Spiritual mentor, author, poet, and scholar. Joe is best known for his 2007 book Soulfully Gay. one of the first memoirs in the tradition of World Spirituality based on Integral principles. Scholar-in-Residence at the Center for World Spirituality, where he works with Director Marc Gafni in providing leadership to the think tank. He also blogs at Gay Spirituality. Arctophile and ailurophile. A little bit country and a little bit "part and whole." Follow Joe Perez Facebook and Joe Perez Twitter.
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