If this Washington Times story is accurate, Gene Robinson is going to become the Ellen DeGeneres of preaching:
The Episcopal Church’s first openly homosexual bishop will deliver a keynote speech to homosexual Christians during a visit to Britain, a move certain to inflame tensions within the Church of England.
The Rev. V. Gene Robinson, whose confirmation as the Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire threatens to divide the Anglican Communion, will address an October conference in Manchester of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement.
Mr. Robinson also is expected to preside at a service.
The homosexual Christian group promotes the conference on its Web site with a message from Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams expressing his hope that the gathering will help the process of “listening and mutual questioning” within the church.
The Rev. Richard Kirker, general secretary of the homosexual group, denied that Mr. Robinson’s presence would be inflammatory.
“It is an opportunity to change any sense that people like Gene are unusual or extraordinary,” he said. “Sexual orientation is a gift of God, and no one should invoke their faith to justify discrimination.”
When Ellen’s TV character “came out,” the show immediately went from a situation comedy about the life of a complex individual to “that gay show.” It wasn’t simply that the character “happened to be gay;” that happenstance was the show. It rapidly is shaping up to be that way for Robinson: His sexual identity and the political agenda inherent in his status are going to be central fact of his ministry.
