Approval of homosexual unlikely to split church

One pastor said any changes will occur in 'church time.'
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- The sky is not falling locally because of the Episcopal General Convention's confirmation of its first openly gay bishop.
American bishops meeting in Minneapolis this week confirmed the Rev. V. Gene Robinson as bishop-elect of New Hampshire.
Though some conservative bishops called the confirmation a "pastoral emergency," members of the local church and gay community said it's part of an evolutionary process.
And both groups compared the situation to those who predicted the church could not survive the ordination of women.
Dr. William C. Bunn, senior warden of St. John's Episcopal Church, said, "the Episcopal church tends to be inclusive."
And though some bishops in the American church and the other 37 branches of the international Anglican church were warning of a schism, its unlikely there will be great change here, said the Rev. Robert M. Lindberg, pastor of Christ Episcopal Church in Warren.
The Rev. Mr. Lindberg was speaking as second in command of the deanery that includes the Episcopalian churches in the Mahoning Valley. The Rev. John Horner, the head of the deanery and pastor of St. John's, was unavailable.
No breakaways expected
Bunn and Mr. Lindberg knew of no local congregations that are likely to break away from the church.
Mr. Lindberg said any changes from the confirmation may take place over four or five years. That open-ended period is known as "church time," he said.
The Diocese of Ohio will not split from the church because Bishop J. Clark Grew II, the Episcopal bishop of Ohio, supported the confirmation.
"I believe God is calling us to a new understanding of the meaning of unity, and God will help us find the way," Bishop Grew said in a statement.
The Episcopal church and other denominations have been debating the roles of gay clergy for years. Mr. Lindberg said he had told his congregation that the issue was coming to the forefront and to be prepared.
In reality, there have been gay Episcopal bishops, and there are gay and lesbian priests, the minister said, adding that some clergy were for the confirmation and some were against it.
There are also gay and lesbian church members, including some in prominent positions, although the reality is often "don't ask and don't tell," Mr. Lindberg said.
Other views
There are several issues that may prevent departures: The diocese owns the church building, churches owe assessments to the diocese, and a pastor's pension is with the diocese, not the individual church.
Dr. L.J. Tessier, a professor of philosophy and religious studies at Youngstown State University, saw the confirmation as helping to resolve homophobia in the religious community.
She added it will take time to resolve the dispute over gay clergy and same-sex blessings or legal marriages.
"It's not going to go away," she said.
She's more interested in legal marriages, since her domestic partner, Tara McKibben, faces a $3,000 monthly bill for multiple sclerosis medication that isn't covered by YSU.
Confirmation opponents have cited the Bible's teachings on sex, but Tessier said, "I'm pretty sure it said something about loving one another and not judging people."
Retired YSU education professor Dr. Glorianne Leck had the first large public same-sex commitment ceremony in the area at Stambaugh Auditorium in 1995.
She said the confirmation was a "major emotional healing" for gays and lesbians who had left the church because of its position on sexuality.
"They want to go back to spirituality," she said.
Withdrawing from the church might result in dangerous spiritual isolation, she said. In the late 1950s, two denominations formed the United Church of Christ. Some members formed solo churches.
"They're still sitting out there," she said.
wilkinson@vindy.com