CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2024 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Most parishioners at the Church of the Redeemer in Rochester, N.H., have walked out rather than accept the leadership of openly gay bishop V. Gene Robinson. Parishioners voted 36-3 Wednesday night to leave Redeemer and found a new church outside the control of the Episcopal diocese of New Hampshire. Robinson said he was stunned by the vote. "I'm heartbroken over this. I thought I was going with an offer they simply could not refuse." Disaffected Episcopalians in the state are asking the world Anglican leader, the archbishop of Canterbury, to accept them as Anglicans outside the authority of the Episcopal Church USA. "It would be an unprecedented thing," Robinson said Thursday. Though other churches call themselves Anglican, the Episcopal Church is the only denomination in the United States included in the worldwide Anglican Communion. Parishioners' decision to break away from the Episcopal diocese comes after months of negotiations. The majority of the members of Redeemer had opposed Robinson's consecration as bishop, saying his life as an openly gay man--he has lived with his partner for 15 years--violates scripture and makes him unfit to lead the diocese. Robinson granted the church's request for a conservative bishop and a conservative priest to conduct services at Redeemer, but he says church law requires him to maintain some relationship to the parish and to approve any priest who serves it. Redeemer members asked him for two years of independence from the diocese, but Robinson rejected that request. Robinson said Thursday the diocese will support the remaining members of the Rochester church "as long as it takes" to rebuild membership. Robinson's assistant, the Reverend Tim Rich, will preach at Redeemer on Sunday. The building also will remain open to a small Presbyterian congregation and a local nonprofit that use it, he noted.
Want more breaking equality news & trending entertainment stories?
Check out our NEW 24/7 streaming service: the Advocate Channel!
Download the Advocate Channel App for your mobile phone and your favorite streaming device!
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Here Are Our 2024 Election Predictions. Will They Come True?
November 07 2023 1:46 PM
Meet all 37 of the queer women in this season's WNBA
April 17 2024 11:24 AM
17 Celebs Who Are Out & Proud of Their Trans & Nonbinary Kids
November 30 2023 10:41 AM
Which State Is the Queerest? These Are the States With the Most LGBTQ+ People
December 11 2023 10:00 AM
These 27 Senate Hearing Room Gay Sex Jokes Are Truly Exquisite
December 17 2023 3:33 PM
10 Cheeky and Homoerotic Photos From Bob Mizer's Nude Films
November 18 2023 10:05 PM
42 Flaming Hot Photos From 2024's Australian Firefighters Calendar
November 10 2023 6:08 PM
These Are the 5 States With the Smallest Percentage of LGBTQ+ People
December 13 2023 9:15 AM
Here are the 15 gayest travel destinations in the world: report
March 26 2024 9:23 AM
Watch Now: Advocate Channel
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Trending Stories & News
For more news and videos on advocatechannel.com, click here.
Latest Stories
04/30/24
23h
Biden admin moves to protect LGBTQ+ kids in foster care
April 30 2024 5:55 PM
Pride
Yahoo FeedGifts for your mother and your MOTHER: Celebrating every mom on Mother’s Day
April 30 2024 5:43 PM