YOU don’t often see respect expressed for bishops (other than the hugely-likeable Anglican maverick Tutu) on this site, but one has to admire the Anglican Bishop of New Hampshire in the USA for his sheer bloody chutzpah.
All smiles, Robinson wandered amiably into the lion’s den yesterday to address Anglicans at St Mary’s Church in Putney, south west London – only to experience Christian “love” at its most virulent when a heckler shouted “repent”, “heretic” and “go back to your own country”.
Could it have been drama queen Stephen “Birdshit” Green, up to his old tricks again?
Afterwards, Robinson whose same-gender partnership has caused heated debate in the Anglican Communion, said he had not been afraid but had felt sorrow for the “darkness” in the man’s heart.
“Darkness”, of course, being a euphemism for religious zealotry.
Robinson’s address was one of several public events in the days before the July 16 opening of the deeply disfunctional Lambeth Conference, the decennial meeting of the world’s Anglican bishops.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, concerned about Anglican unity, did not invite the bishop to attend the conference, but the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, team vicar of St Mary’s, Putney, in the Diocese of Southwark, was allowed to invite Robinson to preach at the regular Sunday evening eucharist.
According to Ekklesia:
Listed in the church bulletin as a ‘quiet and reflective’ service, it turned out to be rather noisier than usual, with a couple of dozen journalists, television camera operators and a packed church in attendance.
Two demonstrators were present, one carrying a placard outside the church and handing out leaflets saying the Bible prohibits homosexuality (ho-hum) and one attempting in the church to shout down Bishop Robinson as he began his sermon.
In a faintly Pythonesque scene, the demonstrator shouted “Repent! Repent!” but he was eventually drowned out by the congregation, which rose and sang – with organ accompaniment – the hymn “Thine be the glory, risen, conquering son.” The man was escorted out by ushers.
Robinson reacted by saying, in a slightly shaky voice:
Pray for that man. Fear is a terrible thing. How sad that the Anglican Communion would threaten to tear itself apart over two men or two women who choose to make a Christian family together.
The bishop, who is visiting the UK with the protection of a bodyguard, confirmed that threats had been made against his life.
Well, of course he’s been threatened. It’s what some Christians do best, after all – especially when you abuse their bloody biscuits.
UPDATE; July 15, 2008: We speculated in this post that the heckler might have been “Birdshit” Green. We were close. Green was there, but outside the church. According to the Guardian:
A lone campaigner stood outside St Mary’s church, Putney. Stephen Green, a haggard and unshaven figure, obsessed and weighed down by the wickedness of modern Britain, handed out leaflets warning of the consequences of same-sex love, while announcing to anyone who would listen: ‘Homosexuality and sexual immorality is all on a continuum with paedophilia, bestiality, adultery, child-sacrifice. You are saying it is all OK.’
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
July 14th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
“…the Rev Dr Giles Fraser, team vicar of St Mary’s, Putney, in the Diocese of Southwark…”
He of Thought for the Day? Hear him on ‘media-friendly theology’: Link
July 14th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
My favorate religueus leaders seem to be Gay
Robinsion and Lionel Blue
July 15th, 2008 at 9:31 am
here’s an interesting question (although I’m sure someone will know the answer). If, as seems possible, the Church of England is split over this and divides into two (and it is my fervent hope that this happens, anything that splits the church weakens it), which half of the schism would the Queen preside over – and would therefore be the official state religion of the UK ?!
Obviously, in my opinion, the Queen would say “bugger it” to both of them and we’d become a truly secular nation, but I doubt we’ll be that lucky….so, should the Queen back – the deluded gay-hating traditionalists or the equally deluded by gay-accepting not-so-traditionalists ?
Interesting times ahead, methinks !
Rog
July 15th, 2008 at 9:35 am
Same post as before – but tidied up into proper English – apologies, I was in a hurry !!
Here’s an interesting question (although I’m sure someone will know the answer).
If, as seems possible, the Church of England is split over this and divides into two organisations(and it is my fervent hope that this happens, anything that splits the church weakens it), which half of the schism would the Queen preside over – and therefore which half would be the official state religion of the UK ?!
Obviously, in an ideal world, the Queen would say “bugger it” to both of them and we’d become a truly secular nation, but I doubt we’ll be that lucky…
So, who should the Queen back – the deluded gay-hating traditionalists or the equally deluded gay-accepting not-so-traditionalists ?
Interesting times ahead, methinks !
Rog
July 15th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
The Bible has six verses that address homosexuality, but more than 100 that advise people to aid the poor. Why are so many Christians engaged in a war on gays rather than poverty?
July 15th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Can I just say that as a biker I was appalled to see the heckler wore a Triumph T-shirt.
Time was when owning a Triumph marked you out as a dude of distinction, not someone who’s such a loser he follows the most conformist strand in a dead institution.
Bah humbug ….. youth of today……good spell in the army….etc., etc.
March 7th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Did any one but me, see a modern day John the Baptist? The lone voice crying in the wilderness? As much as I believe in personal freedom, free-will, and the right to choice, I don’t have faith in man’s (especially) maturity to do so responsibly. We as a race are a major cock-up, literally. We need rules, we need structure, we need the biblical clarification. Like that young man said, ‘what about the bible, what about the word?’ Really, what’s the use? Is it just cultural tradition that makes you Christian? Or is it the redemptive value of the laws of God? For me as a big time sinner (and continual), it’s the law. I’m aware that Jesus/God/however one sees him, loves me, unconditionally. I, on the other hand, want to be worthy of that love, and I don’t feel worthy when I am f’ing around (when what I really am is lonely), smoking weed, and drinking until I’m under the table. It’s all sin, and sinners should not be in positions of leadership in the church where other sinners come for comfort and redemption. Pure and simple.