I don’t think a confession of “gayness” alone, even early on, would have carried the day for Genpo. Not enough of a novelty after Vicki Gene. Very “been there, done that” at this point. Perhaps a more elaborate mixture of “victimhoods” could have hoisted this clown to the episcopate – “Buddhist/Psuedo-Christian, agnostic, pre-op transexual, recovering alcoholic, low self-esteemed, abuse victim with PTSD who thinks “Allah” is a cooler name for God than Yahweh and abortion is a blessing.” Still might have been a close call. But, it’s too late now even for that now that all of these leftie liturgical traditionalists have now appeared to defend “the books.” Not Holy Scripture, mind you, but “the books.” You can be all I’ve mentioned above, but mess with “the books” and no pointy hat for you, Genpo.

I don’t know how he made it through the process if he’s not GLBT. Something’s amiss. But, if I was asked to give consent I would give it immediately, on the “better the devil you know” grounds. Who knows what this diocese will choose if he’s not approved? And I doubt if the Episcopal Church has the fortitude to say “no” twice to any diocese.

I don’t think any bishop would say “well, he reads the Koran at liturgy and he’s a buddhist and he’s Christian in name only, but he’s *gay*, so that’s ok.” I do, however, think his supporters would say that any other legitimate reason for opposing him would be pretext for opposing another gay bishop. As a result, squishy bishops would either agree that the reasons were probably pretextual and sign on to support him, or they would be afraid of being called homophobic themselves and sign on to support him.

So if he “came out” NOW, I don’t think it would save him. If he was “out” from the get-go, I think the homosexuality issue would (sadly) draw enough support on its own, and drown out everything else, and he’d get his “yes” pretty easily.

I’m a little surprised that we haven’t heard much along the lines of “the people of Northern Michigan have spoken, the matter is ended” (with apologies to St Augustine). Seems that I remember hearing this quite often when NH elected VGR. Then, conservatives were told that since the people wanted VGR as their bishop and as he was legitimately elected, the rest of the Church should not “impose” their will by denying consent.

Dave,

Funny how you didn’t hear any of that during Mark Lawrence’s consent process.

But seriously, Christopher – are you really implying that a diocese in TEC would so brazenly flout B033? General Convention is the ultimate authority, after all.

“In such a situation, I suppose what would probably happen is that a great many squishops would wait until Genpo got a few Yes votes and then suddenly discover ”pressing duties” that prevented them from dealing with the matter in the time allotted.”

From what I understand from reading over at Stand Firm, failure to vote counts as a “No” vote. Genpo needs to get 50% + 1 vote to receive “consent” to confirmation. So while the above scenario is quite possible, the result would be that he would not receive the necessary consents – but no one would actually have to go out on a limb and vote “No.”

This could still actually happen. They have a few more weeks to submit their votes, but you know, places to go, people to see…busy, busy, busy!!

Nah, I think what sunk him was messing around with the Baptismal liturgy.

Since the be-all and end-all of Episcopalianism is the Baptismal Covenant, anything that casts doubt on the absolute supremacy of this is going beyond the pale. It’s no good hammering through revision after revison based on the inclusion of all the baptised (and therefore Joe and Steve and Lily and Jane must be fully, completely included in everything and everywhere in everything because they’ve been baptised), when you have someone giving grounds for casting doubt on that baptism.

After all, if Joe hasn’t been properly baptised according to TEC standards, then how can he be made Bishop of Upper Northern Lower Central Midlands? If Jane’s baptism looks dodgy, how can she possibly get the go-ahead to write the new Multi-Partner Blessing Ceremony for the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music? If your whole shtick is “liturgical church that’s got apostolic succession and has kept the same sacraments through the ages; just as good as the Romans and superior to the Protestants”, then you can’t mess about too much with the historic forms.

If Genpo had been smart enough (or humble enough) to go to the Standing Committee and submit a provisional, experimental, let’s-give-this-a-whirl type liturgical alternative, then he’d have a leg to stand on. Since he went off and did his own thing, he’s left himself wide-open. He forgot the first rule of all organisations: CYA

“After all, if Joe hasn’t been properly baptised according to TEC standards, then how can he be made Bishop of Upper Northern Lower Central Midlands? If Jane’s baptism looks dodgy, how can she possibly get the go-ahead to write the new Multi-Partner Blessing Ceremony for the Standing Committee on Liturgy and Music?”

Well… I suppose the operative words might be “according to TEC standards” (if that ain’t a hoot!) but …um… Fuinseoig, are you aware of our Mormon bishop in Utah?

The liberal blogs I have seen have all given Forrester a pass on the Buddhism and the Christology, but some have been concerned about the liturgical changes. (Because somehow it’s fine to be Buddhist and think that Jesus is not the Way, the Truth and the Light, but woe betide anyone who changes the words around!)

Had he been gay I think there would have been enormous pressure to keep concerns quiet. As it is some liberal people are annoyed at those in their home camp who have questioned Forrester.

Had Forrester been homosexual I wonder if people would have been afraid to speak out for fear of being labelled traitors to the cause.

“I am sure that Bishop Robinson will be there, as well, and will even provide training for the whole process.”

No, the last thing VGR wants is a contender for the title of simple country bishop.

I’m betting a gay Genpo would not have revealed (at least to those of us on the reasserter side) his Buddhism until after the pointy hat were firmly in place.

[...] then, of course, there’s the $64,000 question.  What if Thew Forrester was a gay Buddhist/sort-of Christian syncretist?  Would all this quickly-spread information have had the same effect and produced the same [...]