Bishop Robinson is the only Anglican bishop canonically elected, operating within diocesan boundaries, who has not been invited to the Lambeth Conference.  Three U.S. bishops had been working with Lambeth, Robinson himself had been working with Lambeth for about a year, to find some manner in which Gene could be present.  It included an offering of his being present simply for daily round table bible study and worship.  It was deemed unacceptable and he was offered a booth in the exhibition hall.

    In his remarks to our House of Bishops, Bishop Robinson showed a grace not found in his lack of invitation.  "For me the worst sin is leaving the table,"  said in the context of urging his fellow bishops to go to Lambeth and not stay home in support of him.  "I have been most disappointed in that my desire was to participate in Bible study and small groups and that is not being offered.  It makes me wonder: if we can't sit around a table and study the Bible together, what kind of communion do we have and what are we trying to save?"  I find myself wondering the same.

    I have been a long advocate of working to stay together, of gathering and making sacrifice, significant sacrifice, to avoid walking away from any of God's people.  I still believe with him that leaving the table is the worst sin.  And how long must gay and lesbian persons, (the same gay and lesbian persons that 1998 Lambeth and Primates meetings have told the greater church to listen to) be excluded outright from any council of the church?

    Bishop Robinson speaks of the pain of gay and lesbian persons throughout the world and of all persons from his diocese whose voice is not welcome at the table.  It is a pain we need to embrace.  It is a pain Jesus embraces.

    So what are we to do?  Encourage our bishop and all the U.S. bishops to speak for Gene and all gay and lesbian persons throughout the world, and all who support them.  Encourage our bishops to demonstrate gracious honesty.  Pray for our Bishops and all Bishops.  Encourage them to hold before the communion the Ethiopian Eunuch, the woman with the flow, the woman Jesus referred to as a dog, Bishop Robinson and all who were and are not deemed 'appropriate' by human standards.

    Pray for the Archbishop.  Pray for a 'generous orthodoxy', an orthodoxy rooted in practice, particularly Jesus' call to gather all to the table.

    As we approach Holy Week, it is clear that wounding the body of Jesus is still practiced.  Breaking apart that which God has created and declared as one is still practiced.  May we walk to Jerusalem this coming week holding before God ourselves, our communion, a globe aching for a witness of how to come together rather than how to further break apart, Bishop Robinson, the people of New Hampshire and the body of Christ.  May we find the ability not to run, not to join an angry mob, and not to stand in the shadows.  May we instead walk with Jesus and all who Jesus calls his own.  May we go to Jerusalem to 'die with him' as Thomas invites.  And may we find once again life where we despaired of its ever being possible.

Todd Donatelli