Gay Anglican U.S. Bishop Enters into Civil Union

Source: Reuters

Gay Anglican U.S. bishop enters into civil union
By Jason Szep

BOSTON (Reuters) - The openly gay U.S. Episcopal bishop at the center of the Anglican church's global battle over homosexuality, has entered into a civil union with his longtime partner at a private ceremony. About 120 guests gathered at St. Paul's Church in New Hampshire for Saturday's ceremony for Bishop Gene Robinson and his partner of more than 19 years, Mark Andrew. The event was kept private out of respect for next month's worldwide Anglican conference, Robinson's spokesman, Mike Barwell, said on Sunday.

"It was absolutely joyful," Barwell said by telephone. "A lot of his supporters and friends were there, including many members of the gay and lesbian community."

The 77 million-member Anglican Communion, a global federation of national churches, has been in upheaval since 2003 when the Episcopal Church consecrated Robinson as the first bishop known to be in an openly homosexual relationship in more than four centuries of church history. The Episcopal Church is the U.S. branch of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Disputes over scriptural authority, the blessing of gay unions and other matters have become a worldwide issue and threaten turmoil this summer when Anglicans gather for their once-a-decade Lambeth Conference in Britain. Robinson has in the past received death threats and wore a bulletproof vest under his vestments at his consecration in 2003. Two uniformed police officers stood guard at Saturday's ceremony in the state capital Concord, said Barwell.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080608/us_nm/usa_gays_robinson_dc

Congratulations and the best of luck to him and his husband!

NTF

Congratulations to him and his partner. We'll see a lot more of these stories in late June once California opens up.

It's inconceivable to me that anybody would consider this controversial.

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause: :woohoo:

McCain was married 15 years to his first wife when he had an affair with young Cindy.
He then divorced his disabled first wife to marry Cindy, to whom he's been married 18 years.

Gene and Mark have been together longer than each of Newt Gingrich's marriages has lasted, as well. Longer than Limbaugh was married to each of his three wives. Since Bob Barr (Mr. Defense of Marriage Act) is on his third wife, I suspect his unions haven't lasted as long as Gene and Mark's either.

Just sayin' ... Gene and Mark have been together longer than probably many Repugs stayed with their first wives. Repugs who would deny them marriage to the person to whom they're long committed. To the person with whom they have formed a long-standing family.

Congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple!!! And to all you philandering Republican hypocrites, you owe Gene and Mark a nice civil-union gift. They're registered at Mind Your Own Business!!!

:)

I am Episcopalian, didn't go to church today (well, since 2005 :P) but I am sure there was some kind of drama about the news :eyes:

My church and diocese is a bit conservative, there was a huge hoopla when Father Gene Robinson became Bishop.