Gay bishop to attend Lambeth conference despite previous rejection

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • April 20, 2008 - 22:49

Bishop Gene Robinson is the most sernior gay cleric in the Anglican communion

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The most senior openly gay cleric in the Anglican Communion, Gene Robinson is due to enter into a partnership with his long term boyfriend, Mark Andrew, in June and intends to attend the 2008 Lambeth Conference to be held in Caterbury despite previously refusing to attend.

The once a decade Lambeth conference of the 800 leaders of the Anglican Communion will be held this July and the Archbishop of Canetrbury, Dr Williams is keen to ensure that he can avoid further splits before the gathering. In March, it was reported that Bishop Robinson would not appear due to restrictions that he feared wouild be placed on him.

Bishop Robinson will be in London next week in order to promote his new book In the Eye of the Storm and is due to speak to PinkNews.co.uk.

Bishop Robinson caused a storm of controversy when he was elected Bishop by the American Episcopal Church in 2003.

Evangelical churches, particularly those from the developing world are threatening to split with the Church of England if their stance towards homosexuality is adopted more widely.

Rt Rev Peter Price, Bishop of Bath and Wells said: "Once we get into the need for legislation, or tribunals, monitoring or punishments, we lose the meaning of communion."

Some bishops have reportedly threatened to boycott the conference due to the way Robinson has been treated.

However, he asked fellow bishops not to keep themselves from the event for his sake, saying someone has to represent the LGBT population in their communities."You must go. You must find your voice," he said.

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