born kentucky american retired bishop diocese new_hampshire united_states_of_america robinson elected bishop succeeded bishop march bishop served canon ordinary robinson widely known priest openly gay relationship consecrated bishop major christian believing historic sexual orientation privately acknowledged 1970s studied seminary ordained married started family went public sexual identity divorced entered formal relationship second delegates episcopal convention voting ratification election issue controversy election ratified election conservative united_states abandoned formed north_america aligned bishops outside united_states process called anglican realignment story appeared print film given announced intention retire successor elected bishop consecrated bishop concord new_hampshire august served robinson robinson formal retirement january robinson announced plans divorce early life robinson parents poor tenant farmers worked tobacco fields family drew water laundry cast iron open flame house running water robinson years old robinson born seriously ill doctor certain survive temporarily paralyzed birth head likely robinson death physician asked robinson father charles baby birth death certificates robinson parents young mother hoping girl named baby charles father victor baby mother long time robinson parents believed boy die soon later life robinson father tell couldn joy boy development thought step going thing robinson parents members small disciples christ congregation robinson describes childhood religious robinson perfect sunday school attendance thirteen years education marriage robinson chose tennessee offered scholarship robinson intended study medical degree decided major college days robinson began seriously consider ordained ministry said immediately felt right high school college robinson exploring philosophical theological questions said episcopal church got hold graduated cum bachelor_of_arts degree american studies attended seminary fall robinson studied degree episcopal general theological seminary new_york_city intern year chaplain began dating future wife isabella robinson says month relationship explained background fears sexuality continued dating robinson puts month marriage frightened thing raise ugly head day cause great pain robinson discussed decided ahead marriage early career children robinson received degree ordained june cathedral diocese newark new_jersey served christ church new_jersey ordained priest months later wife remained parish years june moved new_hampshire grown goal start business ministry winter called sign dove retreat center summer pony farm runs pony farm horse camp children robinson began working committee diocese new_hampshire study human sexuality authored small manual subject robinson daughter born followed second daughter robinson treasures marriage stating hat tied having children imagine life completely irrelevant question don regret having married children journey possibly regret coming career robinson came friends sold business remain friends november robinson met partner vacation andrew vacation worked washington national office july robinson andrew moved new house blessed event considered formal recognition life andrew currently works new_hampshire state government legally joined robinson june private civil union ceremony followed religious ceremony concord earlier robinson said wanted june bride robinson andrew ended union robinson canon ordinary executive assistant bishop new_hampshire robinson remained job seventeen years elected bishop robinson daughters close actively helped father public relations general convention week general convention robinson daughter held hour old granddaughter election bishop robinson elected bishop new_hampshire diocese june concord thirty clergy votes lay votes threshold necessary elect bishop diocese new_hampshire time clergy voted votes robinson voted robinson second ballot requires canon election procedure candidate elected subjected review national church objections raised procedure election election occurred days months general convention canon law requires consent consent election robinson given august general convention center debate robinson election conservatives liberals church argued robinson allowed bishop conservative factions threatened robinson elected vote resolution legislative committee examine piece legislation held hour hearing robinson election supporters opponents allowed speak speakers robinson daughter read letter wife strong support robinson consists priests voted voted favor opposed divided clergy voted favor opposed divided robinson won votes required election ratified allegations suddenly arose august robinson touched male connections time carried link resource site bisexual people included links pornography sites final vote postponed address minute charges critic gay brought pornography allegation claiming website linked click pornographic websites link found diocese new_hampshire web page bishop elect virtue stated link website organization robinson supported robinson known associated outright secular organization support young lgbt people commentator repeated allegations website day allegations arose website issued press release stating removed link unaware pornographic links robinson involvement particular chapter outright male manchester vermont diocese neighboring robinson alleged touching reported said investigating committee telephone acts question separate occasions felt like intentionally seductive arm public setting man acknowledged regarded incidents natural incidents disturbing nonetheless investigating committee report stated man regretted having word harassment mail man declined invitation bring formal charges day investigation allegation proved merit voted robinson favor opposed bishop election new_hampshire like elections bishops election process unlike parts anglican communion bishops appointed detail misunderstood international commentary following robinson election suggested voluntarily step asked case church_of_england best example contrast election bishops appointment bishops openly gay priest living long standing relationship self identifies appointed bishop person authority appoint area bishop oxford diocese new bishops consecrated archbishop archbishop_of_canterbury allegedly persuaded proceed appointment precedent wider pressure robinson robinson said single bishop involved choosing elections transitions committee arranged center large hockey campus durham numbers expected people press strong choir bishops security strong wear bullet proof vest robinson showing bullet proof vest harris robinson parents sister daughter families wife robinson consecrated november presence presiding bishop bishops bishops robinson election prompted group bishops led statement warning church possible archbishop_of_canterbury stated inevitably significant impact world early result added hope church america rest opportunity consider development significant decisions response archbishop emeritus cape_town stated saying election senior bishops church like archbishop head robinson dispute formed north_america support church reports britain describe robinson received death threats wear needed protection election february robinson treated rehabilitation facility deal increasing dependence alcohol officials surprised news asserted notice alcoholism affect ministry way long recognized alcoholism human disease failure character members issued statement fully supporting robinson returned work march robinson featured prominently documentary film entitled bible tells screened film festival opposed ban homosexual stating find think going end child abuse scandal throwing controversy surrounding invited conferences archbishop_of_canterbury group conservative bishops including duncan opposed robinson gathered jerusalem month prior global anglican future conference event perceived robinson visit united_kingdom privately july participated film screening question answer session sir royal festival hall invited preach mary events attracted media attention sermon interrupted escorted service robinson asked rest congregation greeted slow pray man completing sermon archbishop july public press conference conference called robinson resign participated confess sin conference robinson selected deliver invocation event president barack_obama inaugural weekend despite extended involvement obama campaign selection widely discussed effort role choice evangelical pastor media outlets noted warren compared sex marriage older guy marrying child warren supported banned sex marriage state warren took tone obama desire president citizen event held lincoln memorial days obama swearing asked god seven help obama president seven ways hbo exclusive live broadcast blog event included invocation prepared text posted website episcopal diocese new hampshire video shot informally attendees posted youtube relied hbo feed omitted broadcast recording following day interview robinson limited exposure venue robinson described fold prayer model according decision prayer pre spokesman committee maintaining prayer dropped unspecified error gay activists maintain slight obama administration april robinson magazine list influential gay men women usa landing number august key speaker festival held gloucestershire england delivered talks garnering attendance thousands based views christianity homosexuality human sexuality general rights lgbt members society talks entitled homosexuality bible says matters keeping cool eye storm sexuality spirituality keeping talks big impact gay lesbian festival leading collectively prayer second night festival small group
Gene Robinson