Gene Robinson
His election as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003 stands as a defining moment in Gene Robinson's life and ministry, a threshold he crossed again in March 2004 when he succeeded as bishop diocesan, assuming full leadership of that diocese.
Born on May 29, 1947, in Lexington, Robinson attended Lafayette High School before pursuing his studies at Sewanee: The University of the South. He was ordained as an Anglican priest and, before his elevation to the episcopate, served the Diocese of New Hampshire as Canon to the Ordinary — a position that placed him at the administrative and pastoral heart of the diocese. That long service within the diocesan structure formed the foundation from which his election in 2003 emerged. The following year, in March 2004, he formally succeeded as bishop diocesan, a role he held until his retirement from the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.
Robinson received the GLAAD Stephen F. Kolzak Award, a recognition that marked his public presence beyond the boundaries of diocesan life. His tenure as bishop diocesan — from March 2004 until his retirement — represented sustained pastoral leadership of a diocese that had placed its confidence in him, first as Canon to the Ordinary and then as its bishop. That arc, from his formation at Sewanee through his years of service in New Hampshire, is the shape of a career anchored in one place and one community.
Quotes by Gene Robinson
I think there's a terrible price to be paid when your exterior life is not an honest reflection of your interior life.
Historically speaking, institutions are slow to change and usually resistant to any sudden moves – churches especially so.
I think my election is one of several indications that gay and lesbian folk are being brought more into the center of things. I’d like to think that my election signals my bringing of gay and lesbian folk into the center of the church.
There are enormously gifted Episcopal priests around this church who are gay and lesbian, some of whom are partnered, who would make wonderful bishops and they’re going to be nominated and they’re going to be elected.
The bees learn where they live by landmarks. If they’re moved within their home range, they get confused.
One of the joys of being a Christian or being a person of faith is that you believe deep down that death isn’t the worst thing, you know. Not living your life: that’s the worst thing. And death is not, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s not, it’s not the end of the world.
Faith is a dynamic and ever-changing process, not some fixed body of truth that exists outside our world and our understanding. God’s truth may be fixed and unchanging, but our comprehension of that truth will always be partial and flawed at best.
The state’s interest in marriage is stability. Generally speaking, polygamy does not work for stability. Inherent in the whole polygamous movement is a deep and abiding misogyny and denigration of women. So polygamy is objectionable on lots of grounds.
The folks who are saying this is a communion-breaker are saying that this is more important than all of those things that bind us together and I just don't agree with that.