…on the Claiming the Blessing website. Claiming the Blessing is an All Saints affiliate. The video can be viewed here.
June 14, 2006
Voices of Witness available now…
Rt Rev Gene Robinson and Rev Susan Russell on CNN’s Larry King
Susan Russell and Gene Robinson will appear on CNN's Larry King Live Thursday, June 15, live at 6 p.m., then again (pre-recorded) at 9 p.m. and 12 midnight, Pacific time. They will discuss general convention and view portions of Susan's video "Voices of Witness."
Jesus is the Gay Agenda
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jesus is the Gay Agenda says Bishop Gene Robinson
Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire this morning declared that 'Jesus is
the homosexual agenda in the Episcopal Church, I believe that with my whole
heart'. Addressing a press conference organized by the Human Rights Campaign
and Integrity (the LGBT witness in the Episcopal Church), Robinson, the
first openly gay bishop, said 'I am a beloved child of God because of the
action of God in my own life. My agenda is to speak the witness that I know
of this living, loving God.'
'Jesus rarely pointed to himself but to God', he continued, 'that's what
homosexuals in the Church want to do.' He agreed with those who say we are
fighting for the soul of the Church – will this be a church with walls,
threats and schism, or a Church of the 'inclusive love of God in which every
baptized person hears what Jesus heard at his baptism, 'You are my beloved
in whom I am well pleased.'?'
Robinson did not gloss over the differences between different groups within
the Episcopal Church and some of its 'partners in mission' saying that it
was not surprising to him that (for example) Archbishop Peter Akinola of the
Church of Nigeria did not know any faithful Christian folk because it is
illegal to be homosexual in Nigeria and there is legislation pending which
will make it illegal for a heterosexual person in Nigeria to advocate on
behalf of homosexuals. In the Episcopal Church, Robinson said, there is a
different perspective because 'we know these people'. He said he believed
that 'Peter Akinola is following his journey back to God as prayerfully and
as faithfully as he can' and added, 'I am too.'
For the Rev. Susan Russell, president of Integrity, the faithful response of
LGBT Episcopalians is 'to continue to do what we've done for thirty years' -
to witness to the experience of God's love and 'stay at the table'. LGBT
Episcopalians and their straight allies 'have never threatened to leave' the
church, she said, 'our platform is the full inclusion of ALL the baptized in
the Church of God.'
Neither speaker would make predictions about the outcome of this week's
Episcopal Church Convention in Columbus, Ohio. 'I wasn't given a crystal
ball at ordination,' declared Gene Robinson, but 'God's going to sort it out
in God's time'.
Press Contact:
Ms. Louise Brooks
Chief Press Officer
commteam2@integrity usa.org
Opening Night
The "Voices of Witness" video premiered last night to a full house at Trinity Church of donors, benefactors and press. It was an amazing and wonderful thing to finally "come out" with this witness to the powerful movement of the Holy Spirit in the lives, families and relationships of gay and lesbian people AND to the impact their life and witness has had on their congregations, families and friends.
The press of convention business is, as always, extraordinary: we start with legislative committee meetings and/or hearings at 7:30 a.m. and don't stop until after the 10:00 p.m. daily debrief. In the midst of all that busyness it was an extraordinary gift to spend that hour watching and hearing these amazing witnesses who help us remember why we do the work we do — why the struggle is worth it — why the full inclusion of all the baptized into the Body of Christ is not a price the church has to pay but an opportunity the church is called to embrace.
More about committees and resolutions and all the gory GC details later.
The video will start playing in the CTB booth on convention floor today and we'll have DVD copies to give out (God willing and Fed Ex cooperating) on Friday. Information on ordering "Voices of Witness" will be available shortly on the CTB website <http://www.claimingtheblessing.org>… stay tuned and pray for the church!
Moderator note: The trailer for Voices of Witness can be found here.
NPR Day by Day – Coverage of General Convention
Coverage of the 75th General Convention from NPR's Day by Day, selected from npr.org.
Episcopals Tackle Homosexuality, Gay Marriage
by John DeRose and Madeleine Brand
Day to Day, June 12, 2006 · Officials with the Episcopalian Church are gathering for their annual convention in Ohio, which begins Tuesday and lasts through June 21. Gay clergy and the sanctioning of gay marriage are once again two of the topics up for debate. Three years ago, the consecration of an openly gay bishop divided the international Anglican Community. Madeleine Brand speaks with John DeRose of Chicago Public Radio.
Note: if the listen link above does not work, visit the original post here and try again.
