Gay bishop given standing ovation

The world's first practising gay bishop was given a standing ovation and rapturous applause when he made a controversial appearance at a central London church.
The Rt Rev Gene Robinson from the diocese of New Hampshire in America, told the congregation about his life, being made a bishop and facing prejudice during an appearance some Anglican conservatives hoped would never happen.

The London Diocesan Evangelical Fellowship, which includes senior lay and clergy members had urged the Archbishop of Canterbury to ban Bishop Robinson from speaking at Trafalgar Square's historic St Martin-in-the-Fields, claiming it would cause "further misunderstanding and upset" within the Anglican community.
But the 58-year-old Bishop was warmly welcomed as he delivered a humorous account of the faith's reaction to his sexuality.

He said he was not talking to the "homosexuality challenged" but his "very special friends". "I'm here to encourage you to talk about God," he said to the largely gay congregation. I am not here to talk about a social agenda. I am not here to grind any axes, I am here to do the thing that Christians do, that is to witness to the good of God." Dr Rowan Williams gave the meeting the go-ahead on Thursday but asked Bishop Robinson to not wear his full vestments or take part in the religious service before his speech. Instead he was allowed to watch the service, which celebrated 10 years of Changing Attitude - an organisation for gay Christians - from a centuries old velvet chair reserved for bishops on the altar.

At the end of his speech Bishop Robinson said poignantly, "We belong in the temple, it is exactly where God wants us to be." Tony Bently, 38, travelled from Leicester to hear the Bishop's address. He said: "I think it is very important that he came here. There will be some ill feeling that he was not allowed to wear his full vestments, but overall, the fact he was allowed to talk here, at this church, is a step in the right direction."

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2200652005

I hope he never backs down.

Good to hear. A sign there is a lot of progress being made. Wish he could have been allowed the full process and everything, but at least it was a very respectful welcome and I think people can see he has pretty much the same message as anyone.

bright lights.
I don't attend his church, but i've met him, and admire him alot.

the hate messages of W's Falwell and Robertson.