(Community Matters) Evan Smith interviews the new Episcopal Bishop in this month’s Texas Monthly. Bishop Andy acknowledges our diocese’s diversity and his own relationships with gay/lesbian friends, and he indicates the diocese “will not see change” in its practices. To the extent that this allows individual parishes to continue same-sex blessings and for LGBT priests to continue practicing in the diocese – while not especially bold leadership – perhaps a sign of more inclusion in our future.
Even though there is a great diversity of points of view on this topic, the people of the diocese will not see changes in how we look at same-sex blessings or unions, nor on the topic of ordination of bishops. Now—and this is the important part for me—I grew up in a diverse culture and have friends who are gay and lesbian. The reality of our diocese is that we have gays and lesbians who go to our churches. They find their spiritual journeys entwined with our own in this place. So when I make the statement that things will not change, there is a great deal of pain. I am unwilling to pretend that pain is not there.
As to his statement about the ordination of Bishops, I don’t believe he’s not friends with & supportive of Bishop Robinson. Disappointing he’s signaling his unwillingness to support a gay or lesbian as a Suffragan Bishop nor same-sex unions, yet.
Community Matters 