ROCHESTER, NH: RIFT IN CHURCH GROWING. SOME EPISCOPALIANS WANT A NEW BISHOP

By Anne Ruderman, Concord Monitor Staff | April 4, 2004

Conservative Episcopalians in New Hampshire—opposed to the consecration of Bishop Gene Robinson—have begun organizing to place themselves under the oversight of a more orthodox bishop, possibly from outside the state or even from abroad, while remaining within the broader Anglican Communion.

“We haven’t left the church. We’re still part of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire—and that’s the problem,” said Lisa Ball, vestry member at Rochester’s Church of the Redeemer. “We don’t want to follow Gene Robinson.”

Robinson—the first openly gay bishop in Anglican history—has ignited global controversy since his election in 2003.

The Rochester meeting (attended by 75 people) marked the first gathering of New Hampshire’s chapter of the Anglican Communion Network (ACN), a national orthodox coalition formed in January 2004. Though grassroots in origin, the ACN works closely with the American Anglican Council.

Members hope the wider Communion may permit them to bypass Robinson and align with a like-minded bishop—from New York, Canada, Africa, or Latin America.

While such a move would be unprecedented, a similar proposal was rejected by U.S. bishops in March.

Bishop Robinson opposes organizing bishops by ideology rather than geography: “It begins to be completely chaotic… Entire Anglican history is organized by jurisdiction, not belief.”

He insists he remains the canonical authority—but offers pastoral flexibility: “I’m willing to let another bishop come in for counseling and leadership—but he won’t have jurisdiction.”

Some conservatives have already acted. A southern New Hampshire group formed the Seacoast Missionary Fellowship, and Rochester’s Church of the Redeemer has publicly distanced itself from Robinson.

“We thought there was no way Scripture and the vote for Gene could be reconciled,” said Joel Hansford, now with Seacoast. “Scriptural authority was more important than this new doctrine of inclusiveness.”

While ACN leaders insist the goal is reform, not schism (“The language of leaving the Episcopal Church is not what this is about,” said Rev. William Murdoch), others disagree.

Les Hanscom, 66, of Seacoast, called it “a minor revolution… You didn’t think there’d be conflict in the church.”

Robinson plans to meet with Redeemer’s vestry to seek reconciliation: “We’ll bend over backwards to give them the care they need.”

Yet parishioners remain hopeful others will soon join them: “There are many people and parishes in New Hampshire scared to stand up,” said Ball. “But they’re out there.”

End