UPDATE 7/10: Audio of +Gene’s comments:
UPDATE: Complete transcription of +Gene’s comments are at Center Aisle
Tom Jackson is live tweeting from the House of Bishops this morning, and he has captured a remarkable moment in which Bishop Gene Robinson, who is soon to retire as the bishop of New Hampshire, told his colleagues in the house that he was fed up with the sniping and mistreatment he has endured as the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop.
The incident seems to have been triggered by a rumor about how Bishop Robinson is responding to the current controversy in the House of Bishops regarding nine bishops who have offered legal support to breakaway factions attempting to take possession of the church’s property.
Read this item from the bottom up.
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Anonymity is the devil’s workshop. We cannot do reconciliation if we don’t know who to reconcile with #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
+ South Carolina – has sympathy for how Bishop Gene was treated – wants to know who the two offending bishops are #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Bishops applaud and stand (as does most everyone else) #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
+East Carolina stands in support of +Gene – thanks for his exemplary life in a reconciling way #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Pleading with you : lets not talk about reconciliation, lets attempt it #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
“Can you cut me a little slack?” “Can’t we abide by the rules we set?” “I’ve had just about all I can take.” #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
For 9 years I have endured a level of scrutiny that most of you cannot understand but there is a limit to what 1 person can bear #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Also received email from Virtue online – #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Last night got email from John Howe – two bishops had reported that Bishop Gene would not read the letter from the 9 bishops #ecgc #GC77
rev.tom jackson ?@tcjackson2009
Bishop Gene – moment of personal privilege – #ecgc #GC77
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Bishop Gene has been a model of courage in the face of anger and difficulty and has risen above the criticism in a way not many of us could. Indeed, cut him some slack. It must be harder than any of his critics can imagine to be the pioneer for justice that he has been for his own brothers and sisters in the HOB to criticize him even now. I admire and respect Gene and give thanks for all he is and for his leadership for the rest of us.
I think VOL's email to Bishop Robinson was completely out of bounds. But had he not discussed it at the HOB meeting, nobody would have learned about its existence, and a lot fewer people would have heard the rumor that is the subject of the email.
David Virtue and his ilk are the most unchristian people I know. As a bishop once said to me, "His next fact will be his first fact." As scripture says, "The Truth is not in him." His lies, slander, and innuendo have hurt many people. Thank you Gene Robinson for your Christian witness and stand against evil.
Three cheers for Bishop Gene. He PRACTICES Christian charity even when faced with people who feel they can defame and denigrate him and still be free to call themselves Christian.
My heart is breaking for Good Bishop Gene. Christ protect and defend him!
JC Fisher