The General Convention of the Episcopal Church has sharpened our culture's intensifying focus on homosexuality. In a year of political and religious milestones for gays and lesbians, Gene Robinson became the first openly gay man to be elected an Episcopal Bishop. There were 11th-hour allegations of impropriety. But in the end, the laity, clergy, and House of Bishops of the Church confirmed his election.
This week, we set aside the ins and outs of the Robinson controversy. The public furor over this event flows, in part, from our culture's confusion over what it might mean to morally condone homosexual relationships. And Gene Robinson aside, this issue remains an ongoing source of bitter debate among Anglicans and in most of the mainline churches in this country.
How can people of faith reach radically different conclusions while living in the same tradition? Host Krista Tippett engages two Episcopal bishops on either side of the matter in a thoughtful conversation that aims to clarify our understanding of the religious issues at stake.
Voices
 Rt. Rev. John Lipscomb is Bishop of the Diocese of Southwest Florida. |
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 Rt. Rev. Catherine Roskam is Bishop Suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. |
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Related Links
• "The Gift of Sexuality: A Theological Perspective" is a report produced over 18 months by the Episcopal Church's Theology Committee of the House of Bishops. (pdf format)
• Find out more about Bishop Lipscomb from his page on the Web site of the Episcopal Church in Southwest Florida.
• Read Bishop's Lipscomb's statement of opposition to endorsing Gene Robinson as Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.
• Find out more about Bishop Roskam from her page on the Web site of the Episcopal Diocese of New York.
• A sermon by Bishop Roskam given in 1997 to the members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of California, at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
• The Vatican's statement exhorting Roman Catholic lawmakers in North America and Europe to fight against laws recognizing same-sex couples.
• DignityUSA, an advocacy group for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics, responds to the Vatican's letter.
• The Episcopal Church, USA's Web site, which includes links to its news service.
Music
• "Waterwheel" and "Sunset," by Kronos Quartet, from Pieces of Africa, Elektra Nonesuch 9 79275-2
• "Puckett's Farewell," "Lafayette," and "Medicine Bow," by Peter Ostroushko, from Sacred Heart, RHR CD 140
• "Red Temple" by Steve Tibbetts, from A Man About a Horse, ECM 1814 440017068-2
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