Ariz. Episcopal bishop: Gay's exclusion 'insult'

The bishop of Arizona's Episcopalians says it's "insulting" that an openly gay American bishop was not invited to next week's Lambeth Conference, a worldwide meeting of the Anglican Communion.

Arizona's Bishop Kirk S. Smith, a Phoenix resident, is one of about 700 bishops from around the globe who will attend the once-per-decade event, which will begin Tuesday in Canterbury, England. The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican Communion, which has nearly 80 million worshippers around the world.

Bishop V. Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, was not invited to attend. But Smith said Robinson will be in Canterbury, just not at the event.

"I think it's a very insulting thing to the American church that a duly elected bishop is told he's not allowed to come," said Smith, who will be attending his first Lambeth Conference.

"The vast majority of my colleagues feel quite upset. But Gene himself told us, 'You need to go and make your case.' He has been gracious and complied with the archbishop of Canterbury. I hope I will be able to convince some of the bishops I meet with to meet Gene, so that he's not just a name."

The British papers are predicting the event will be extremely tense due to continuing disagreements between the Western church and more hard-line bishops, most of whom are from developing countries.

Conservative Anglican leaders from around the world met recently in Jerusalem, where they talked about creating a new movement of Anglicanism based on an orthodox interpretation of the Bible.

The ordination of homosexuals, as well as the blessing of same-sex unions, has been a source of much of the controversy. The Church of England's recent decision to allow the ordination of female bishops — something the Episcopal Church already allows — did not help to mend rifts.

"We have spent far too long arguing about these things, and we really need to get on with the mission of the church," Smith said. "One of my hopes for the Anglican bishops is that we can recommit ourselves to the larger mission, agree to disagree and get on with it."

Though he predicts a faction of the communion probably will leave, Smith is upbeat about the church's future.

"This group that met in Jerusalem, they don't want to be a part of it anymore. They are a minority — I think maybe five of 38 provinces. (But) some of those provinces, like Nigeria, are big," he said.

"We don't like to see anyone feel they have to leave for any reason. But will it mean end of church? Absolutely not. . . . I think the Anglican Communion will survive."

Arizona has seen some divisiveness, too. Segments of two Phoenix-area churches, totaling about 300 people, have left their congregations within the past two years.

"It was the Gene Robinson issue. They would say it was over doctrinal orthodoxy. It is really about sexual things," Smith said. "I think some people have become sort of obsessed by them at the expense of anything else."

The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona is made up of 65 churches and about 30,000 worshippers. Eight Episcopal churches and missions are in the Tucson area.

Smith, who became bishop of the diocese in 2003, has told the state's Episcopal leaders to refrain from blessing same-sex unions. But that could soon change.

"Probably next year we'll begin to discuss among the clergy about what way to best proceed. It's what the worldwide Anglican Communion asked of us, though I'm not sure it accomplished much," he said.

Smith said he personally is "theologically comfortable" with blessing same-sex couples.

"Not speaking for the church but for myself, I really believe in full personhood of everyone," he said. "God made people differently. In God's wisdom, some are born gay or lesbian, and they ought to have the opportunity to live in close, personal, committed relationships like heterosexuals."

He said he believes the Episcopal Church in the United States, which has had its own share of bitter infighting over sexuality, has turned a corner.

  Ariz. Episcopal bishop: Gay's exclusion 'insult'
Arizona Daily Star, AZ