Bishop Gene Robinson Responds

My fervent prayer is that God should touch +Robinson.
The Rabbit.

VGR is usually absent from the HOB and the DioNH on his touring for gayness, how will not being at Jambeth be any different?  Especially since he says he’ll be there - undoubtedly giving another journalist another interview?  This is the best of all possible worlds for him:  media, media, and more media - if he can get their attention.  The real pain will begin when the media ignore him.

By the by, the whole “summation of pain” as a non-entity was dealt with in THE PROBLEM OF PAIN by CS Lewis.  Perhaps VGR would like to tackle that whilst busy being “NOT” at Jambeth.  Something different, philosophy and theology, that sort of thing, for a new take on life, perhaps?  Or whistling, like Brian recommended in a Monty Python flick?

Always look on the bright side… .

“now, I think I will go to Lambeth thinking about gay and lesbian people around the world who will be watching what happens there.”
Gene Robinson.  The gay bishop.

“All this is really sad for me and for my diocese. I won’t have the experiences you will have, to share with them.”

I’ve never had a bishop share a Lambeth experience with me.  Has anybody else?

I’m tempted to read this as, “All this is really sad for me.”

I see him talking, but all I hear is “blah blah blah”...

Gene - if you don’t like it, take it up with GOD, who said in HIS WORD that the lifestyle you have chosen is sin. 

I am, however, truly sorry you have chosen this path.  I do not know your circumstances - maybe you were sexually abused as a child.  Maybe, when you were a vunerable teenager, you found safty in the arms of a man.  Maybe your mother hovered over you as a child.  It is not for me or anyone else to judge your circumstances. 

In any case, you have chosen not only to live the lifestyle of an active homosexual, but to be in the spotlight, as those who support your sinful lifestyle voted for you to be a bishop, directly and totally against the canons and teachings of the church.  You knew exactly what you were doing, and what the possible consequences might be from this action.  You and your cohorts tried to change the canons to accept same-sex blessings, and when that failed you did an “end around”.  So I don’t want to hear your crap about being sad about not being invited to Lambeth, etc. etc.  Boo hoo!! 

I do pray God’s mercy on your soul.  Those that teach are held to a higher standard by God.  I hope you are ready to face the eternal consequences of your actions.  I know you and those around you think you are “all that”.  But that doesn’t matter - it is just the “blinking of an eye” compared to eternity.  The only question is this - what does GOD think of your actions?  I think He made it very clear in HIS WORD where He stands on this…

I pray God will take the scales off your eyes and reveal to you your sin.  I pray that your hard heart will be softened by His Word.  You are obviously in spiritual bondage - I pray you will be released.  I pray you will repent and be washed clean, a new creature created in Christ.

He says that God saved him and redeemed him; by what mechanism?  From what I understand, apart from his lifestyle, he does not buy into even the Nicene Creed.

Bet he’s going to sell a lot more books than if he were invited. More drama, more sales.

If this was supposed to be a non-whining letter then I would hate to see a whiney one.

<blockquite> I want to be clear than I am not here to whine. I learned of the result of this negotiation on Friday evening. I have been in considerable pain ever since. </blockquote>

Oh, please stop, I can’t take it anymore, oh please my gut hurts, no fair, that is too too funny.

Cheer up Bp this will make a lovely chapter in the mini-series of your life.  Think of the additional spin off merchandise this will cause.  ” I was banned from Lambeth” T-Shirts, ” Where’s Gene?” the board game.  “The Mystery of The Missing Bishop” the novel.    “Waiting For The Invitation”, the play.  “Travels without Gene” the epic poem.

I think Oprah may some day need a co-host, call your agent, get to the top of that list.

I’ve no doubt that +VGR sincerely believes his cause is a just one and that his emotional pain is real.  Also, he had the grace to acknowledge of the pain of the orthodox bishops in attendance.  Personal ‘experience’ has been and continues to be a driving force is this drama, and happily for the revisionists, ‘experience’ sells media.
However, in Oct 2003,  the primates said, If TEC goes forward with this consecration, the fabric of the Communion will be torn.  Now +VGR says, “Don’t let them cut me off from you.”  The break took place in 2003, and the current brokeness in the Communion emanates from that day of decision, which he fully supported.

Hills of the North has a great take on this.

Get Bach to where you once belonged.

73 sentences. Should be about 60, but he is a poor writer/grammarian.  He uses the word I 54 times, the word me 18 times. My shows up 15 times, mostly in “my pain,” “my life” and “my desire.”

God makes six appearances, and Jesus shows up once. Who is this all about, anyway?

Man, does he maunder on.  For those who aren’t up to wading through the whole thing, here’s my concise edited version:

I ... me. I ...me… I want ... I… whine. I.. I… in considerable pain… But I want ... I ... in pain… My own pain… I felt the compelling urge to run, to flee. My… my ... I ... I ... I know ... me… I ... I stayed…. I want… I declined ... I really had high hopes ... I ... I ... I thought something would work out…  me… I was seeking… I ... I want ... I want ... I want ... me ... me ... my ... I want ...  I know ... my life… my mind boggles ... I have been most disappointed ... my desire ... me… I am dismayed and sickhearted… In my most difficult moments…my chief pastor and shepherd, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cut me out of the herd… I ask ... if I am not invited ... I want ... my voice ... I’d much rather… me ... I know… I can ... I hope ... me…I have… I have been… I can ... I will .... Don’t let them cut me off ... All this is really sad for me ... I won’t have ... But I will be there ... me…. me… my focus ... I had hoped ... making my own contribution ... I think I will go to Lambeth… I will go to Lambeth I ... I will ... me…  me .... me… I ... I ... I ... I have ... I was ... me… I will need ... A lot.

[11] mousestalker,
Thank you for the link to the Hills of the North take on this. It was great, and I loved the concluding two paragraphs:

Yes, the matter of homosexuality may be the presenting issue that is now tearing the church apart. But it will be the ongoing displacement of the worship of God by worship of self that will in fact be what destroys our church. For that is in its essence idolatry and the worship of a false god.

And if one is to take this statement to the House of Bishops as anything other than bad parody, there seems to be no better exemplar of this new religion than Bishop V. Gene Robinson.

I learned a long time ago that sin is spelled this way:  s-I-n.  Sin always points back to the “I” in the middle, and not to God.  For -VGR to talk continually in the “first person” is really enlightening.  No wonder God only shows up six times and Jesus only once in this statement.  It’s not about God.

Gene wants to talk to a theologian when he goes to England.  I pray he finds a great theologian who will clearly show Gene that he is headed for an eternity outside the Kingdom of God amd convert him to Biblical truth.

“.....The offer to be hosted at the Marketplace is a non-offer. That is already available to me. One workshop on one afternoon and being interviewed by the secular press was not anything I was seeking. I wasn’t going to Lambeth to have another interview with the secular press…..... instead of leaving the 99 sheep in search of the one, my chief pastor and shepherd, the Archbishop of Canterbury, has cut me out of the herd….... I know that the last thing you will need at the end of the day is another meeting just so I can catch up with you. But I hope you will be willing to stay in touch with me…...... But I will be there in the marketplace, willing to talk with anyone who wants to talk, especially with those who disagree with me. If you know me at all, you know that that’s true…..”

In trying my utmost to be charitable and loving the only word that comes to mind is “sad”. Susan Russell’s headline on Integrity “Gene says no thanks to being an exhibit at Lambeth”......does she think they wouldn’t read his statement? Seems that’s exactly what’s in store. VGR never seems to be able to screw up his pride and conviction and avoid another gay/lesbian ‘dog & pony’ show. On reflection, the word is not “sad” but rather “pathetic”.

One does get the sense of +VGR falling back on a chaise lounge, his hand waving a large chartreuse flowing handkerchief, allowing it to waft over his head [having once seen a picture of Oscar Wilde striking such a pose] , crying for the smelling salts and saying “I, I, I, must be brave, oh, yes, I really must be, I really must be, brave must I. It is just me, yes me, me, me, they have devastated. But, I, I, I, I, yes, I, will live with it. But, you, will all rue it as I remind you daily as I sit at the Lambeth Children’s table, you know, the card table in the corner set up for the whiny babies… OOHHH! The agony…wait a minute… what a cute journalist, oh my, come talk to me about myself and theology.”

St. anonymous -
during slow lunch hour I read the whole thing.  A fairly accurate count of “I’, “me” “my” is 84 times in the article.  But it’s not about him.

The New Thing Religion, formerly known as the Episcopal Church in the United States of America: all gay, all the time.  How people on the street hear the “conversation” in The New Thing Religion, fka ECUSA:  “Blah, blah, blah, gay, gay, gay, blah, blah, blah, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, blah, blah, blah, gay, GAY, GAY, GAY, GAY, GAY, GAY, GAY!!!!!”  But they are still amazed why people aren’t breaking down the doors to hear this every Sunday.

The only good thing to come from the complete embrace by TEC of the Gay Agenda is that it makes it much easier for straight men to get attention and dates…

My initial reaction to this letter is simply to shake my head in wonder, not sure whether to cry, laugh, or just be numbed at how breathtakingly self-absorbed one person can possibly be.  But I will take a step back and put forth the following points of interest.  I may be accused of being uncharitable in my interpretation of VGR’s letter, but it reads to me very much like a standard liberal political action letter.

1. There is the implicit shot against Schofield, Duncan and Iker.

My own pain was sufficient enough that for 36 hours I felt the compelling urge to run, to flee. My inspiration for staying came from my conservative brothers in this house. I have seen John Howe and Ed Salmon and others show up for years when there was a lot of pain for them. I see Bill Love and Mark Lawrence, and I know it is a very difficult thing for them to be here right now. For me, the worst sin is leaving the table. And that is what I was on the verge of doing. But, largely because of you, I stayed.

Note how cleverly VGR converts the “poor me” schtick into an attack on those who have broken off sacramental fellowship from him.  Note how he tries to divide the orthodox bishops.  Note how he is attempting to whip up fervor against Schofield, Duncan and Iker.

2. He paints himself as the martyr, but all the while is setting up his real agenda.

I want to tell you why I declined the invitation as it was proposed. I really had high hopes that something might work out….
The offer to be hosted at the Marketplace is a non-offer. That is already available to me. One workshop on one afternoon and being interviewed by the secular press was not anything I was seeking….If interviewed at all, I want to talk with a theologian. I want to talk about the love of Christ. I want to talk about the God who saved me and redeemed me and continues to live in my life. I want to talk about the Jesus I know in my life.

Poor VGR.  He wasn’t seeking publicity, oh no!  All he wanted was to share the love of “the Jesus he knows” with the press.  But the mean, bad, wascally Rowan Williams won’t let him do that.  He paints himself as the great martyr for a few more paragraphs, and we will see the conclusion to this a few points down.

3. After suggesting that he is a double martyr (for being spurned by the ABC, and then despite his overwhelming pain, for staying at the HoB meeting), VGR lays out two demands on his fellow TEC bishops.  First, they must go to Lambeth to do what VGR can’t:

I ask two things of you. Some of you have indicated that if I am not invited, you won’t go either. I want to say loud and clear - you must go…..And….you have to find my voice and the voices of all the gay and lesbian people in your diocese….you must go and tell the stories of your people, faithful members of your flock who happen to be lesbian and gay.

4. And then VGR demands

And second, please don’t let them separate me from you. Please don’t let that happen. It will be difficult, and we will have to be intentional. I know that the last thing you will need at the end of the day is another meeting just so I can catch up with you. But I hope you will be willing to stay in touch with me.

What VGR is basically demanding here is that TEC’s bishops, as much as possible, legitimize him as a bishop.  And he is giving the marching orders that the bishops are to try to involve him as much as they can - push the envelope as it were, to involve VGR in the proceedings.

5. And now, back to point 2.  VGR said there that he just wanted to talk about “his” version of Jesus and participate in Bible study, but that the bad, nasty, wascally Rowan Williams wouldn’t let him.  So VGR says, since he didn’t let me do that, well, I am painted into a corner…

But I will be there in the marketplace, willing to talk with anyone who wants to talk, especially with those who disagree with me. If you know me at all, you know that that’s true….But now, I think I will go to Lambeth thinking about gay and lesbian people around the world who will be watching what happens there….I will be taking them to Lambeth with me. They told me that the Episcopal Church was their hope for a different, welcoming church. They told me they were counting on us.

In this letter, VGR takes a shot against those he doesn’t like - justifying punitive actions against them, gives cheap verbal praise to those conservatives who he thinks he can co-opt, paints himself as the double-victim, attempts to guilt TEC’s bishops into carrying his flag into Lambeth, then justifies his intention to be the “gay bishop” which he pretends he is not.

The realy whopper, though, comes at the end, when he says of Rowan Williams…

I was trying to help him, and it just didn’t work.

That comments just leaves me speechless.  Shaking my head in absolute wonderment, but without speech.

The only good thing to come from the complete embrace by TEC of the Gay Agenda is that it makes it much easier for straight men to get attention…

From whom?

Good analysis by James.

There is one positive to take away from this letter: Gene Robinson is man enough to use the correct first-person pronouns and not use the weasely reflexive forms we see so often. It takes a person firm in their own self-identity and grounded in proper grammar to use “me” instead of “myself.”

Other than that there’s little else to say.

” I’m ready for my close up, Mr DeMille”

#22 jamesw,
You sir have made my day! Brilliant….bloody brilliant!

There’s a distinction here.  VGR the man, the homosexual -welcomed into the church and loved as the Lord would have us do.  Homosexual activity is sinful but let those who are without sin cast the first stone at him.  I’d hazard a guess and there are some who are writing on this thread who refuse to recognize their sin or do not believe their sin to be sin.  I am probably one of those, although mostly I know my sins and struggle against them as we all do.
However, we have VGR the bishop, the priest, and that’s another matter altogether.  That he is an ordained priest goes against everything we believe and all the bible says about those who lead flocks.
That he trumpets his homosexuality and its associated behaviours is a terrible witness and for that we should always hold him in prayer and also those whose lives he touches.
I’m troubled by the nitpicking away of his words and the mockery.  We are bigger than that, and I don’t see our glorious model, our Lord Jesus, carrying on as some (including me) do.  It is not edifying to our souls.

... I meant to say “.... should be welcomed…”

Hi Bill C,
Your analysis and comments are spot on.  On T19 the elves would have intervened by now.

As many have already said, I am speechless.  I agree with the above post that says we are really seeing that the new religion is the “me, myself and I” religion—whatever I feel, whatever I want, whatever I think I deserve, whatever I think is right for me, etc. etc.  It takes us right back to the Garden of Eden and the choice we all have—to submit to God or to go our own way.

  This man, who so desperately needs the same thing we all need, the saving, transforming love of Jesus Christ, believes in the religion he has created, not the faith he was ordained to guard and protect for those who are entrusted to his care.

He should not be at Lambeth, especially as the center of the media attention he claims not to seek, but which his past behavior has confirmed he desires.  One cannot help but think, while reading all of his self-obsessed sentences in which he claims to be the persecuted victim, about all the individuals—faithful people of all ages—who have loved and supported their churches as part of their Christian faith,  and the thousands of families who have been devastated by all that Gene Robinson has been at the center of in the aftermath of General Convention 2003. 

May God save us from the destruction wrought by the new self-centered religion, which fits the self absorbed culture in which we live.  Gene Robinson’s statement declares to all that he is the poster child for what has falsely been named “progressive Christianity.”  Progression in our Christian walk, by the power of the Holy Spirit, leads us further and further away from self and closer and closer to the heart of Jesus Christ and obedience to Our Heavenly Father’s good and pleasing and perfect will.  “Progressive Christianity” is the antithesis of that truth.

I could not help thinking about the verses in 1 John, beginning with chapter 1, verse 5:  ” God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. . .” And verse 8:  “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” And chapter 2, verse 4, ” The man who says, I know him, but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”  But for Gene Robinson, as for all of us, the answer is right there too:  in chapter 1, verse 9,  ” If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  NIV Thanks be to God for His faithfulness to His children and for the wideness of His great mercy.  Upon that we can depend.

Over at “Telling Secrets” and “Inch at a Time,” this is the greatest writing since The Gettysburg Address.

Gosh, Bishop Robinson… I had no idea that this decision was so hurtful to you, and that your are in such pain over it. Why, I can only suppose that the peals of laughter and joy around the Communion lo these years since 2003 have drowned out your cry. If only you had said something before… if you only you had taken the time before now to tell us about yourself, about your feelings, about what this has meant to you... if only you had stopped thinking of others for a moment, taken a moment off from not being ‘the gay bishop,’ perhaps then, we could have heard your plea. This letter of yours is such a stark contrast from everything you’ve said and written these past four and a half years, I cannot help but weep.

Tissue, Greg?

Thanks, Hosea, but… I… I need a moment…

Did +Robinson actually expect Rowan Williams to give him another opportunity to pour out his rage in a personal attack as he did at the HOB meeting in New Orleans?  +Robinson actually had to be told by his fellow bishops essentially to sit down and shut up!  Wonder what the Jesus +Robinson knows thought of that outburst?

For me, the worst sin is leaving the table.

And that sums up his entire problem.

Last time I checked the worst sin is choosing one’s SELF over God - rebellion….

But what do I know…. stupid little Laity that I am…

“I want to talk with a theologian.”

That can easily be arranged if you’re serious: http://vintage.aomin.org/dividingline.html
877-753-3341.

Notice anything about this pathetic plea for attention?  Used the word “I” 45 times and I lost count of the “my” and “me.”
1.I first want to thank Ed and Bruce and Tom  
2.I have felt very supported  
3.I want to be clear
4.I learned of the result
5. have been in considerable pain
I want to acknowledge that
I am not the first or last person
I felt the compelling urge to run, to flee. 
I want to tell you  
I really had high hopes
I have been talking
I got my first phone call
I thought something
I was seeking.
I wasn’t going to Lambeth  
I want to talk with a theologian.
I want to talk .
I want to talk  
I want to talk
I have been most disappointed
I am dismayed and sickhearted  
In my most difficult moments, 
I ask two things of you. 
I am not invited
I want to say loud and clear  
I’d much rather be talked to  
I know that the last thing  
I can catch up with you.
I hope you will be willing
I have walked into this
I can never thank you
I will always and every
I won’t have the experiences . 
I will be there in the marketplace
I had hoped to focus  
I think I will go to Lambeth  
I will go to Lambeth
I met in Hong Kong
I will be taking them  
I hope we can talk
I will be praying for you
I know it will seem very strange  
I have nothing but respect
I was trying to help him,

I was told, some years back, that a certain female bishop at HOB meetings was wont to make long and dreary speeches at the microphone about how everything was sexist, sexist, sexist.  Her sister bishops finally took her aside and told her in no uncertain terms to cut it out.

Advice to those bishops sympathetic to Robinson: Tell him to step away from the typewriter.  Tell him to step far, far away…

Sheesh, what a driveling piece of nothing his letter was.  As Snoopy of Peanuts fame used to say, “Bleah.” :(

Commenatrix—somebody has stolen Smuggs’s blog name.

This really has got to stop.

Orthodox/Reasserters/Conservatives!  Cease and desist from artificially posting under other people names.  This is a warning.

Ah, Sarah, but I try so hard to never cease to amaze and bewilder.  Just ask my wife who usually falls in the latter categorgy… 

...category.  Oh damn….  G’nite….

Smuggs, maybe you meant to say that your wife is gorgy-ous! 

He’s been lobbying the ACO for a YEAR??!! Hahahahahahaha…
No wonder he’s in “so much pain!” The whining, pleading, and accusations of homophobia didn’t work for once. Apparently no cries of “how prophetic!” either. Guess he’s not used to it.

But it might be worth the plane fare to see him peddling his wares in the marketplace. Is the general public allowed in?

But it might be worth the plane fare to see him peddling his wares in the marketplace. Is the general public allowed in?

I want the shirt that says “My fellow Bishops went to Lambeth and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!”

One of the saddest things about this: If I were Bishops Salmon, Howe, Love or Lawrence, I would be offended at being named in Vickie’s response.  Oh, but see how inclusive he/she is.  Right.

Frankly, if I was a member of TEC in New Hampshire, I’d be mad as hell that instead of doing his Bishop work within his diocese, something he is paid to do, he is globe trotting all over the world, Hong Kong, London trying to promote his agenda on homosexuality.  Regardless of my own personal views on homosexuality I’d be upset that he using diocese money running all over the world period.  GENE…........you work for the people of New Hampshire.  ANd PS….there are not catacombs in Hong Kong.

When I accepted Christ as my Savior it was a profound experiance for me.  I gave up and tried to avoid all mannner of sin.  The Song Day by Day really does express my desire to try to see Jesus more clearly, follow Him more nearly, and Love Him more dearly day by day.  It seems to me that many want Christ to serve them, bend to them and follow them and they try to bend the truth to thier agenda so they do not have to deal with thier sin.  The destruction of TEC and the disruption of the Anglican communion is a very sad result.

One would think that being a bishop would include being a theologian with solid training and years of study and consideration given to the subject. Further, one would think a bishop would have resources to draw on from other theologians and not have to wait up to 10 years before having a meeting with a theologian. If Gene Robinson does not consdier himself the caliber of theologian required to understand the most straight forward elements of Scripture then he should do the honorable thing and resign.

I don’t believe him!  He’s a joke.  He should stop crying and “grow up”.