Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson
Elizabeth Adams
Soft Skull Press, 2006

On November 2, 2003, Gene Robinson garnered national media attention as he became the first openly gay bishop ordained in the Episcopal Church.  Elizabeth Adams offers readers a look inside the man who—though far from ordinary—would be an unlikely candidate for celebrity were it not for the matter of his sexuality and the heated debate currently raging in Christian churches worldwide.   As the subtitle suggests, this is not merely a hagiography of a holy man revered by the author, herself a devoted Episcopalian, but a careful reporting of the history and events leading up to this momentous occasion in the Episcopal Church USA. 

Readers unfamiliar with the rich traditions of the Episcopal Church in America will find themselves either enlightened or weighed down with the detailed descriptions of canon law, procedural minutiae, and numerous clergy and parishioners.  Adams writes from an insider’s perspective, apprising us of everything from Gene’s personal feelings to the security and media arrangements on the day of the consecration.  At times tedious with this detail, it nevertheless gives bountiful insight into how this mainline denomination dealt with and continues to address homosexuality in the church.  The author also provides interesting historical background of the progress of women’s ordination within the denomination.

This book is obviously sympathetic to the position of the full inclusion of gays in all areas of church life and ministry and may offend those of a rigid conservative position (especially Southern Baptists, who are periodically singled at as examples throughout the text).  However, those willing to engage the debate will find a measured representation of the conservative reaction within the Episcopal church at personal, diocesan, national and international levels.  Evangelical readers may be surprised, in fact, to read of the agonizing concern and painstaking efforts made in this process to preserve both orthodoxy and unity within the Church.  The Episcopal Church may have a reputation as “liberal,” but as Adams demonstrates here, the denomination is filled with a diverse array of beliefs and believers.  Bishop Robinson’s consecration was not the result of a secret homosexual agenda steamrolling through the church, but a complex series of slow and painful changes seen simultaneously as victories and defeats depending upon one’s perspective.  The degree to which each decision was regarded prayerfully as well as the reported “Spirit-filled” moments by those interviewed is evocative of Evangelical language.  For those dealing with this issue and others within their own denominations, the words of Bishop Paul Moore may provide them with a new way of thinking about the way forward: “…this is the way progress comes, not smoothly through the system, but by disruption, reflection, and compromise.  History moves in jerks, like an old steam engine pulling out of a station.  Occasionally, I thought to myself, people fall down” (p. 43). 

This is, of course, primarily a biography.  The life of Gene Robinson is related through friendly interviews, insightful anecdotes, and personal observations.  Bishop Robinson shines through as one admired, loved and respected by those who know him.  Those who read this book will be drawn in by his warmth and wisdom, whether or not they agree with his theology and lifestyle.  Bishop Robinson cites John Fortunato’s Embracing the Exile: Healing Journeys for Gay Christians, as the book that changed his life.  Perhaps Going to Heaven will have a similar impact on some of its readers as well.

So part of the appeal of the Episcopal Church was this open acceptance regardless of sexual orientation.  There were other reasons of course–I love the traditional liturgy and the observance of church seasons.  I also love the focus on social justice and fighting poverty.  And of course I was also excited about belonging to a church which regularly ordains women for service and is currently led by a woman (presiding bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori).  While in the churches of my childhood women are still often not allowed behind the pulpit (or many times even in front of a Sunday School class that includes men or even teenage boys), it seems to be a non-issue in the Episcopal Church (though I could be wrong as I’m still a newbie).  Meanwhile the real issue Episcopalians are struggling with is how to deal with gays and lesbians.

This week is the 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church and it seems to be a big deal.  I’ve been eagerly following events as well as I can, at least hanging out reading #ecgc tweets on Twubs.com and then clicking on links like crazy trying to wrap my brain around whatever is going on out in Anaheim.  One apparently big deal involves a resolution DO25.  From what I can tell, the point of DO25 is to affirm that the Episcopal Church wants to remain within the Anglican Communion but it also acknowledges the presence of gays and lesbians in committed relationships within our church.  It’s actually a bit confusing because it also says: “The acceptance of the ministry of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons is not settled in The Episcopal Church or in the Anglican Communion.“  This baffled me a bit, but further research seems to show that the purpose is to overturn another previous resolution–BO33 which established some kind of moratorium on ordaining gay bishops (presumably that came about some time after Bishop Gene Robinson was ordained).  Another source says it is means the Episcopal church is affirming gay clergy.  It seems to be kicking up a bit of a fuss with the more conservative elements of the Anglican Communion and it also seems to be welcomed by GLBT tweeters and bloggers.  So perhaps it is more radical than it appears to me and I’ll take it as a positive sign.  The best explanation of its purpose that I’ve read comes from Twitterer (no idea what to call Tweetheads) and fellow Episcopalian Sarah G. Bennett.  She wrote: “What I understand is D025 is a snapshot of the reality of our church, today. A “this is who we are” so to speak. No more, no less.”  I like that.

Anyway, as for DO25, it passed the House of Deputies (which is made up of clergy and laity, I think) yesterday and today it passed the House of Bishops, but with amendments.  Now it seems it will go back to the House of Deputies for approval again because of the amendments.  Here are some details and here is the text of the amended resolution.

Meanwhile the rest of the Anglican Communion may not be so pleased with us.  Apparently, Archbishop Rowan Williams has already expressed “regrets” about DO25 and from what little this newbie knows, the more conservative elements of the Anglican Communion (some within the U.S. but many more in other nations) will no doubt have a lot of negative reactions.  There’s already been some kind of schism within the Episcopal Church as some churches have apparently declared themselves the Anglican Church of North America.  Oy, it’s really confusing for a newbie Episcopalian.  All I know is I embrace the warm and inclusive church that has welcomed not only my family and me (a heterosexual mother and housewife) but also those who don’t fit the traditional churchy mold.  I think it’s wonderful that there are churches like mine who reach out with open arms where other churches would reject and condemn.  I also spent a couple years in England attending an Anglican church, so I also hope that the Episcopalian open arms don’t lead us out of communion with the rest of the Anglican Communion.  I wish they would embrace us as with open arms as well.