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Anglicans consecrate openly gay bishop

Church organizers are bracing for protesters Sunday as the Anglican Church ushers in its first openly gay bishop
CBC News ·

In a move expected to cause a deep rift in the worldwide Anglican community, the church has consecrated its first openly gay bishop.

The ceremony to make the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson the Bishop of New Hampshire took place Sunday in front of about 4,000 people at the University of New Hampshire's arena.

Robinson's election has divided U.S. Episcopalians and their 74 million fellow Anglicans in other countries.

Last month, leaders of the church held an emergency meeting, and warned that their church would be in jeopardy if Robinson's consecration went ahead.

Critics have labelled Robinson as "satanic" and have issued death threats. He travels with police protection.

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADAQUICK FACTS

  • Unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Church is not a centralized institution.

  • It consists of national churches throughout the world that are in communion with the Church of England.
  • There are more than 800,000 members of the Anglican Church of Canada.
  • Most Rev. Michael Peers is national primate of the Anglican Church.
  • The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is the leader of the Anglican Communion that includes about 70 million members throughout the world.
  • Lambeth Palace has been the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury since 597 AD.

"I regret that so much of the energy and resources of our church has been directed to this protest," Robinson has said.

Conservative opponents are planning to hold several protests, including a prayer vigil at a nearby church. Chris Cluff, pastor of the Durham Evangelical Church, said he expects dozens to attend the protest.

"We basically stand in support of these episcopalian brothers and sisters who feel as though their church has moved and they haven't," said Cluff.

In recent interviews, Robinson has said he hopes the church lives up to its motto of welcoming everyone.

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