Thursday, August 07, 2003

The Episcopal General Convention in Minneapolis this week hasn't been boring, and that's no surprise. Questions regarding the mainstreaming of gays and lesbians bedevil many other institutions and practically every sector of society. Just as no man is an island, the church does not stand aloof from this swirling tide.

This week, the gay-rights question found a particular focus in the nomination of the Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, a cleric not just out of the closet but openly living with a partner.

To say the Rev. Robinson presented a dilemma to the Episcopal leadership -- as the first openly gay candidate for a bishop's office -- is an understatement. The presence of a gay man in the upper echelons of ministry isn't unprecedented. What is unprecedented, at least in America, is that a candidate on a denominational fast track would refuse to hide his sexual orientation for appearances' sake.

For reasons that speak well of his character, the Rev. Robinson decided that it was best for his Christian witness not to engage in hypocrisy or the sin of omission. Had he been more discreet about his sexuality, he would've been appointed without fanfare.

Theologians are obviously free to debate the appropriateness of ordaining a man whose very being may be anathema to so many of the faithful, but we would be remiss in not pointing out the unfairness of the last-minute charges of inappropriate behavior made against him. Coming as they did as a historic vote was about to take place, the charges smacked of desperation tactics by his opponents.

The Rev. Robinson's nomination eventually succeeded on its own merits. The decision was always for church leaders alone to make, guided by prayer and reflection. But beyond the theological arguments about how the Bible should be interpreted, this controversy held worldly interest as one square on a much larger civic battleground. Advocacy for gay marriage, gays in military service and equal benefits for gay couples is plowing fresh civil rights territory daily.

Now that gays are increasingly acknowledged as a valued part of our society, the moral question has gone beyond a black-and-white formulation to one involving the ethics of exclusion. Can society legitimately discriminate against gays and maintain the high ground?

In this war fought on several fronts for the hearts and minds of Americans, the brave elevation to bishop of the Rev. Robinson is bound to have an impact far beyond the pulpits and pews of the Episcopal Church.

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