Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay Episcopal Bishop, entered into a civil union with his long time partner, Mark Andrews, this Saturday!
According to PageOneQ:
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 Andrews. The event was kept private out of respect for next month's worldwide Anglican conference, Robinson's spokesman, Mike Barwell, said Sunday.
More after the jump...
... 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.
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.
Robinson and Andrews held two ceremonies -- a non-religious one in which they became legal partners followed by a formal church service to give blessings to God for their relationship.
I've had the honor of getting to know Bishop Robinson and I'm extremely happy for this amazing man. When my partner and I spoke to the Bishop to congratulate him on his big day and this was his jubilant reply:
Today's the day! Aren't these amazing times we've lived to see??!!
These are amazing times indeed. A heartfelt congratulations to the Bishop and his partner. May he have the peace and happiness he has brought to so many lives, including my own.
You can learn more about the Bishop and his amazing story in the documentary "For The Bible Tells Me So."
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8 Comments
Bishop Robinson makes me proud to be an Episcopalian. I congratulate him!
Polar | June 9, 2008 1:37 PM
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That's freakin sweet!
Serena Freewomyn | June 9, 2008 4:59 PM
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Way to go, Bishop Robinson! It was a pleasure to meet you at Creating Change and find out we're your favorite blog!
Bil Browning | June 9, 2008 11:36 PM
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Woo, go civil unions!
Alex Blaze | June 10, 2008 7:29 AM
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Bishop Robinson was one of the keynote speakers at the National PFLAG Convention last fall in Washington, D.C. He spoke very movingly and I felt honored to be in his presence!
Annette | June 10, 2008 7:52 AM
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And here in Asia on CNN Sunday the voices of Darkness within the Episcopal church were decrying this move on the part of the church and threatening a schism. Retired Bishop Desmond Tutu has condemned the fascination with sex that has gripped the Episcopal communion in the face of so much suffering the church (when unified) can relieve in Africa.
Not to rain on Bishop Robinson's day. It is worthy, important and groundbreaking while being controversial within the communion and, potentially, a cause of harm to defenseless people because haters will have their pound of flesh regardless.
Robert Ganshorn | June 10, 2008 8:51 AM
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I understand what you are saying, but any harm that comes from controversy over this union will be from the haters and not Bishop Robinson. He has always spoken of unity and moving beyond division (much like Desmond Tutu). He is just a man living the calling he feels from God, which not only includes being a Bishop but being with his partner as well. Any harm that comes is from those that teach hate and division.
I think his message and example are needed to help stop the violence and hate that is too often taught from pulpits around the country.
Waymon Hudson | June 10, 2008 9:17 AM
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Oh, agreed Waymon, I don't know if CNN North America carries the same stories as CNN Asia. we only get snippets of north American news here and this bishop was from New Zealand I believe.
Robert Ganshorn | June 10, 2008 11:31 AM
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