T HE
G ENE D IVIDES
Gay rights split Episcopal church.
I
t’s a warm, still summer morning in Eugene, and
59 congregants at St. Thomas Episcopal Church sit
silently in dark brown pews. Sunlight pours
through towering orange, yellow and blue stained
glass windows as the parishioners watch Rev.
Jeremy Tyndall approach the pulpit.
Tyndall, 49, with pale skin, a red moustache and a lean
frame, is nervous. On this day, August 10, 2003, he
knows his generally conservative congregation is not
by seth walker
happy about the week’s promotion of Rev. Gene
Robinson — the country’s first openly gay bishop — to
the top spot of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.
Now he must deliver a hastily prepared Sunday sermon
that addresses their concerns.
“While some are delighted at the confirmation of Rev.
Robinson, an openly gay man living with a long-term
partner,” he begins in a gentle British brogue, “many oth-
ers are feeling deep pain, including me.”
“WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON HERE IS THE END OF PATRIARCHY. WE’RE FACING
THE END OF STRAIGHT WHITE MEN MAKING ALL THE DECISIONS.”
— R EV . G ENE R OBINSON
G
OD LOVES EVERYONE,
including those with a
same-sex orientation, he
says. But to him,
Robinson’s promotion feels like a Trojan
horse. Robinson was elected because he was
the best candidate, but the action by the
national Episcopal Church says it’s not only
comfortable with an openly gay bishop, but
it also implies support for even greater lib-
erties for gay men and lesbians.
To Tyndall’s surprise and slight embar-
rassment, the congregation applauds. It’s the
first time they’ve done so for him in the sev-
eral years that he’s run St. Thomas.
An hour later, Rev. Nick Parker — a
good friend and former assistant of
Tyndall’s in England — kicks off the
Sunday worship at St. Mary’s Episcopal
Church in the center of town. About 15 min-
utes into the service, Rev. Nancy Muhlheim,
a church deacon, steps up to the pulpit to
deliver the sermon.
Muhlheim, whose big smile, well-mani-
cured fingernails and youthful face belie her
true age of 60, stands at the front of the main
parish hall. Above her, the ceiling in the
shape of an upside-down boat hull symbol-
izes the ship of faith.
Muhlheim begins to deliver her words
softly but clearly, assuming an even-keeled
tone that subtly demonstrates support for
Robinson while creating an atmosphere of
inclusiveness for those who don’t agree with
his election.
“The continuity of the Episcopal denom-
ination and its traditions does not lie in the
8 MAY 20, 2004
face more trying times. Despite the leader-
ship standing against Robinson’s election,
St. Matthews has lost 20 families. They’ve
hands of one person, event or social issue,”
either left for different parishes or simply
she says. As the congregation lives through
quit attending church. The picture is similar
the controversies and changes within the
at St. Thomas, where they’ve lost at least an
national church, she says, everyone should
estimated five percent of their congregation
remember that they are united in their reli-
and received dozens of complaints.
gion. In the Bible it says nothing, not even
Those against Robinson argue that the
death, shall separate them.
two-million-member U.S. Episcopal
The leadership and many parishioners at
Church is rapidly moving away from the
Eugene’s four local Episcopal churches
policies of its governing body, the 70-mil-
stand evenly divided along theological and
lion-member Anglican Communion. The tit-
moral lines on Robinson’s promotion: Most
ular head of the Anglican Communion, the
at St. Mary’s and Church of the
Church of England, neither
Resurrection stand for it, and
R EV . B ILL S WAN
elects nor consecrates open-
most at St. Matthews and St.
& R EV . R ALPH
ly gay church leaders.
Thomas are against it.
H AYNES
The main arguments
The church-goers are
against Robinson revolve
more than talking about
around his active sexu-
the issue. Two mem-
al status with his
bers left St. Mary’s
partner, not his
and about 10 peo-
sexual orienta-
ple complained
tion. The church
after Robinson’s
welcomes celi-
election on Aug. 6
bate gay priests,
by the Episcopal
but it frowns
national convention.
upon sexually
One family left
active ones. It
Church of the
has never pro-
Resurrection. Both
moted — until
churches, however,
now — an openly
claim that they even-
gay one to the power-
tually increased their
ful position of bishop.
rolls because of their
Scripture is also
inclusive approach
used against Robinson.
to the issue.
The Bible denounces
St. Matthews
homosexuality
at
and St. Thomas
seven different points, depending on how
you read it, with the story of Sodom and
Gomorra being one of the most famous. To
some, Robinson’s consecration shows that
the U.S. Episcopal Church is now willing to
make policy decisions that directly conflict
scripture.
For Robinson, the arguments against him
in Eugene are similar to those all over the
country, though he believes the discussions
here miss the point entirely. He believes the
issue at hand is much larger than sexual
activity or conflicts with scripture.
“What’s really going on here is the end
of patriarchy. We’re facing the end of
straight white men making all the deci-
sions,” he says.
To him, gay men and lesbians are now
fighting what he says is possibly America’s
last great civil rights battle, and like other
civil rights battles, it’s going to be long and
vicious.
“The patriarchal system that’s been
there for centuries is going to be resistant.
Despite struggle, people of color and
women continue to rise to positions of lead-
ership. Now the last fight is for homosexu-
als. It’s mostly white men who are driven
crazy by my election.”
In the 1960s, he says, the main issue in
the country was race. In the 1970s, it was
women’s rights. Now, just past the turn of
the century, the issue is civil liberties for gay
men and lesbians.
“We must ask whether citizenship is full
and equal for all, or whether there’s still an
asterisk next to certain names,” he says.
Homosexuals, he says, are fighting to see