Robinson Calls For Church To Welcome Outcasts

[Khephra]

Robinson Calls For Church To Welcome Outcasts

POSTED: 4:16 p.m. EST November 9, 2003

PETERBOROUGH, NH -- The Reverend V. Gene Robinson began his ministry as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church today by saying he wants to bring the message of God's love to those on the margins.

He also said the church should speak out on issues of social justice, including the lack of access to health care for many Americans.

more.........

http://www.thechamplainchannel.com/wnne/2623089/detail.html

[ninkasi]

Sounds like a real Christian

to me. Didn't Jesus advocate inclusion, and leaving passing judgement on others up to God? What a pity that the Xtians have usurped the meaning of Christianity.

[htuttle]

1. When I saw the subject line, I thought it was about a different Robinson

I was terribly intrigued as to what circumstances would cause Pat Robinson to suggest welcoming outcasts of any type. Couldn't actually imagine any.

Of course, different Robinson, different church, and apparently different belief system than 'Pat' Robinson. What's all this about God's Love and Social Justice? Pat Robinson says those are Commie ideas...He says God gives him stock tips.</not really sarcasm -- more of a observation>

[Bronco69]

2. You're thinking of

Pat Robertson

[htuttle]

3. Yes, I know

After getting over my initial confusion, I was suddenly struck by the fact that they profess to follow the same religion when I compared them side by side.

[gratuitous]

4. What a concept

Build the community, and leave the work of separating the sheep from the goats up to God. Huh. Who came up with that cockamamie idea?!

[JoFerret]

5. Good for Gene Robinson

and an end to turning a blind eye to homophobia. This is the Christianity of the Gospels and the Sermon on the Mount. As an atheist I admire his stand for traditional values.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. And he's the new mainstream of the Episcopal Church

This morning, I sat in the choir loft watching the people walk past us for Eucharist. Old, young, white, black, Asian, straight couples, gay and lesbian couples filed by, and then one of the priests brought the bread and wine down to the people who can't walk or walk only with great difficulty.

Gene Robinson has the right idea of what God's Kingdom looks like. (Just as the Democratis have the right idea of what America looks like.)

[regnaD kciN]

10. This morning, at church...

...I heard an account of the Diocese of Olympia Convention held yesterday.

A certain large, fundamentalist-wannabe parish moved that the diocesan assessment (the amount each parish is asked to contribute to diocesan operations) be reduced, because so many people would presumably be either leaving the church or staging a contributions boycott in protest over +Robinson. The reply came that, so far, not only had there not been a significant reduction in pledges, there had been an increase in them. As a matter of fact, some parishes reported that the amount of pledges they had received, after the national church approved +Robinson's election, had doubled!

I've been hearing this from elsewhere -- also, that many parishes have reported an influx of new members since then.

Looks like there are liberal Christians out there, despite what the televangelists and the superficial mainstream media claim. More to the point, this is just the sort of step that can invigorate them (or, should I say, "us") to stop being silent and reclaim Christianity from the right.

[Syn_Dem]

7. *looks around confused*

Am I in heaven?

[Beacho]

8. If I remember correctly

Jesus spent his time with outcasts, that being the drunks, the whores, the lepers, and the poor.


I seem to remember something else along the lines of 'what you do to the least among you, you do to me'.


He'd be lucky to get 'just crucified' if he was preaching today.

[PartyPooper]

9. Yes, that's why what Gene is doing and what he represents

is true Christian behaviour.

Too many charletans have hijacked the Church...and, have besmirked the name of Christ. One particular guy in the White House is one of the perpetrators...a hypocritical, lying, 'false prophet', if you know what I mean. And, there are plenty more out there. UGH!

But, at least Bishop Robinson is truly representative of Christ's flock. He even makes me want to attend church once again.

O8)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. False prophet, or

false profit? ;-)

[davidinalameda]

12. he is a man of God

his election as bishop is almost enough to make me go back to church