The first openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, just one week away from his role in Obama’s inaugural ceremony, spoke last night to Seattle about “Civil Rights in the 21st Century: Why religion matters.”
But Obama’s choice of Gene Robinson does have its critics. Peter LaBarbera, President of Americans For Truth about Homosexuality says that Obama’s selection of an openly gay bishop “signaled a tragic departure from America’s godly, Judeo-Christian heritage…and has distorted the Bible to justify his [Obama’s] support for homosexual relationships.”
To me, Gene Robinson demonstrates so much hope and excitement in the future of religion. Looking at this on a more personal level, my own parents were lifelong Episcopalians and deeply involved in the Church. In fact, my mother has worked for the church for decades. But their staunch liberal stance on gay issues created a schism within their suburban church that was split on gay issues during the 1990’s. Throughout the years their church bounced between progressive and conservative leaders and back to progressive but my parents remained involved and committed, never afraid to speak out for gay issues over the decades.
In 2004, my father was suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Unable to move around on his own, and barely able to speak, one of his last conversations with me was his strong desire to see me immediately go down to Oregon and get married before they changed the rules on same-sex marriage. Multnomah County had begun issuing marriage licenses. And my father saw this as more than a just civil relationship. To him it was a consecration of marriage in the eyes of the Lord. Little did my father know that in April of 2004 they had shut down same-sex marriage in Oregon. My father passed away in early 2005. Soon after his death, thousands of licenses issued in Oregon were ruled void from their inception.
But anyways, if you missed Bishop Gene Robinson last night at Town Hall he will be the preacher at a special standing-room-only Evensong service at St. Andrew’s Church tonight, January 13, 2009. Tonight’s service requires reservations. Go here for more info.
Or, tonight’s Chatroom at Gay City is a discussion for guys interested in being part of a gay men’s spirituality reading group. Come help define what that might look like! Men of all faith traditions (or none) are welcome. Tuesday, January 13th at 7pm Kaladi Brothers Coffee (511 E Pike St in Seattle).
