The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, meeting November 11 in its 204th annual convention, affirmed that gay, lesbian and transgendered people are "expected to exercise individual baptismal ministries at all levels of our common life in this diocese."
Bishop Gene Robinson told the diocese it has much to be proud of in "this part of God's vineyard." In the diocese, he said, "the Gospel is being preached and heard without the kind of rancor and conflict so evident in other places."
"Our people are going about the business of being Christian with a real respect for one another, despite their disagreements about certain issues," he said. "We still find our unity, not in unanimity of opinion, but at the communion rail, gathered around the Lord's table, receiving the bread of life, in a church that too often feeds on the bread of anxiety. Our clergy have relationships of respect and deep affection for one another I see nowhere else in the Church -- and believe me, you are well served by that. Our congregations are engaged in outreach efforts that make my heart sing. I suspect it makes God's heart sing as well."
The complete text of Robinson's address is available here.
Among the resolutions the convention passed were ones to:
The complete texts of all the resolutions passed by convention are available here.
The Diocese of New Hampshire comprises about 15,530 Episcopalians worshipping in 49 congregations.
