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ECPC Board Statement on the Election of Gene Robinson

June 13, 2003

The Episcopal Church Publishing Company (publisher of The Witness magazine) joins the Diocese of New Hampshire in celebrating the election of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson as its ninth bishop. We believe that Canon Robinson, who was elected on June 7, 2003 by a majority of the clergy and laity on the second ballot, will be used to further God’s purposes as a bishop in Christ’s church. He has lived in that diocese for almost thirty years and has faithfully served as its Canon to the Ordinary for the past fifteen years, and his pastoral gifts, administrative skills, and joy-filled spirit are known and respected by many of us around the church.

The Witness has long been a voice calling for the full inclusion of lesbians and gay men into all levels of church ministry and leadership. We celebrate that in the person of Canon Robinson is a pastor who is trusted and loved by the people of New Hampshire. We also rejoice that a barrier of sexual orientation has been crossed in our church: the election to the episcopacy of an openly gay person living in a committed relationship.

Like the other nine bishops-elect who are being elected within the three months prior to General Convention, Canon Robinson’s election must come before both the House of Bishops and the House of Deputies in Minneapolis this summer for consent. Following a thorough and fair search process, Gene Robinson was duly elected in accordance with the church canons. We hope and trust that the General Convention will honor the decision of the clergy and laity in the Diocese of New Hampshire.

Let us remember the words of Jesus to Nicodemus in John’s Gospel reading appointed for this coming Trinity Sunday:

The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)

May we as a church trust the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Members of the Episcopal Church Publishing Company board of directors:

  • Dr. Owanah Anderson
  • (The Rev.) Richard A. Bower, Secretary
  • (The Rt. Rev.) John Bryson Chane, co-vice president
  • (The Rt. Rev.) Jane Holmes Dixon, president
  • (The Rev.) Mark Harris
  • (The Rev. Canon) Elizabeth M. Kaeton, co-vice president
  • (The Very Rev.) Tracey Lind
  • Mr. Ben Matlock, Treasurer

Related Links:

For a summary of diverse responses from around the church to Gene Robinson’s election, visit http://deimel.org/church_resources/vgr.htm