1. The RBTE regarded VGR as an inappropriate speaker.
2. In keeping with Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves, the RBTE also concluded that having VGR speak might cause its dinner guests to choke, gag, or even regurgitate an otherwise enjoyable meal.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _

Did you know that ECUSA’s “communications” budget (presumably supporting the flak who tried to get VGR invited to speak here) totals $4,443,400---four times as much as ECUSA’s total budget for missionaries’ salaries?
http://ecusa.anglican.org/documents/New_Structure_-_2008_Mapping.pdf

If he wants to be a simple country bishop, why doesn’t simply stay in New Hampshire?

He’s anything but simple, anything but a bishop.  The ‘simple country Bishop’ phrase is plainly contrived for the ‘sound bite’ mass consumption. (I imagine that there are more allegedly clever phrases by him, but I can only tolerate a small amount of his self-advertising ‘poor me’ appearances).

He is a homosexual activist first and foremost, and a bishop of a small diocese secondly.  His activities in his diocese seldom arouse a response from the NH press.

Isn’t a bishop suppose to visit each parish annually?  According to their website, the diocese has 49 parishes and missions.  If the plethora of newstories of his speaking engagements are any indication, something tells me some of those visits may not happen.

RBTE has one great feature that sets it apart from every other trade show (wholesale marketplace) I have ever attended. They close the show floor for lunch and everyone sits down for a meal...none of this grabbing something on the way to the next booth. I will be at RBTE, and as a member of the Episcopal Booksellers Association I am looking forward to the Wednesday night dinner. I am sorry to say that as a nonvoting “supporting” member, I did not have a voice in approving the choice of Bishop Robinson.

If I am understanding Sarah’s comment about the Roman Catholic church being involved, they are not. RBTE is a trade show, not an outreach of the Roman Church. Because the show is aimed at “Catholic, Episcopal, and other liturgical traditions”, the lunch speakers usually have very broad appeal and are not in the least bit controversial.

I believe MP’s #6’s last line indicated why VGR wasn’t picked to speak. A rare example of agreement with the likes of Irenaeus.

According to their website, the diocese has 49 parishes and missions

What I don’t understand is how the Episcopal Church continues to maintain that it is upholding Windsor (Archbishop Eames was just in Virginia and said everything is okeydokey) while The Episcopal Church’s official publications office is promoting Gene Robinson as if they are his agent.  Either one hand does not know what the other hand is doing (which means chaos reigns at 815) or the idea that The Episcopal Church is “Windsor-compliant” is a complete and public farce.

bb

I linked to this story a while back. Go to here. In particular, the main performer at the event is popular tenor who is a Catholic and a strong pro-life advocate. (He has a pro-life organization.) I suggested that people write to him and point out that he is sharing the venue with a staunch pro-abortionist. See links in preceding link. I also contacted the CEO’s of the publishing companies that are listed as sponsors of the event - just a little flag planting! (Also, note the comments section of the story.)

Jackie, I believe the canons require a visit every three years, not every year.  In addition, a visit on a weekday evening is also possible.

Otherwise, bishops in huge dioceses would be utterly overwhelmed. Mass and Va have about 150 parishes.  Even with a couple of bishops, a visit every year would be almost impossible.

So if all of the Catholics decided they needed to stay in their rooms wash their hair when he spoke, and only the progressive Episcos went to hear him, how many would be in the audience?

RE: “If I am understanding Sarah’s comment about the Roman Catholic church being involved, they are not.”

Not certain what on earth you are talking about, Mad Potter.  I said that The Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) is a trade show for Roman Catholic bookstores. 

RE: “. . . the lunch speakers usually have very broad appeal and are not in the least bit controversial.”

I agree—which would be why when the publishing arm of the Episcopal Church asked for him to speak at lunch they were told “that would not be possible.”

Sarah, RBTE is a trade show for “Catholic, Episcopal, and other liturgical traditions” (from the RBTE website).
My comment was addressed to what you wrote..."Thankfully, in the case of the Roman Catholic church, that attempt is a failure.” All I said is the Roman Church is not involved at all. I view it as a good business decision made by a business man.
I am looking forward to hearing him speak. And proud to be a member of EBA

to expand on my previous comment, there is no shortage of speakers or musicians. This is a market place and I am sure that getting a speaker a prominent place on the agenda sells books....and that is why we are there, to make money.

AnglicanXn...the only people that could be there...Episcopal Booksellers Association members.

"Simple country bishop” is more like simplistic (i.e. “one note") country (we do tend to be more rural than urban) bishop (not mine). When I was a member of the NH Episcopal Diocese, the bishop typically visited once every other year.  They recently attempted to have an area wide confirmation, but as I understand it, it was cancelled due to lack of interest/candidates.  VGR typically does his parish visits with his entourage - usually six or eight leather panted, mincing queens of obvious homosexual persuasion.  When he came to my former parish, at the Bishop’s tea after church, he spent his time socializing with his camp followers.  Said camp followers were never to be seen in that church before or after VGR’s visit.  You notice he never talks anymore about his bishopric ATTRACTING people to the Episcopal church.  As for the Episcopalians of New Hampshire, perhaps Dante said it best:  “There is a special place in Hell reserved for those, who, in times of great moral crisis maintain their neutrality”.