Gay Priest Not Picked
As N.J. Bishop
By AP from the
NYTimes on the Web, September 23, 2006
NEWARK, N.J. -- Avoiding
further controversy in the worldwide Anglican family, the Episcopal Diocese of
Newark on Saturday chose a Massachusetts priest as their new bishop, rather than
an openly gay candidate on the ballot.
The Rev. Mark Beckwith, 54, won on the third ballot, taking 253, or about 53
percent of the 477 ballots cast by clergy and lay representatives.
Canon Michael Barlowe, 51, an openly gay priest from California, only had one
vote, cast by a lay person, in the final round. Even in the first round,
he only had 40 votes, 16 from clergy and 24 from lay people.
The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton, an openly gay priest at St. Paul's Church in Chatham,
felt Beckwith was the best choice to lead the diocese, but thought the global
Anglican community's pressure on the American church to avoid more gay bishops
was an ''elephant in the room.''
She thought it was sad that ''someone of the caliber of Michael Barlowe had such
a poor showing.''
Barlowe is currently an officer for congregational development for the Diocese
of California in San Francisco.
The election in the historically liberal diocese came at a time when divisions
over the Bible and sexuality are threatening the denomination and the worldwide
Anglican family.
A win by Barlowe would have put the diocese at the center of a crisis over
whether Anglicans who disagree about ordaining gays can stay in the same
fellowship.
The feud erupted in the Anglican community in 2003, after the Episcopal Church
consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.
In June, the Episcopal General Convention, the church's top policy-making body,
voted to ask U.S. bishops to ''exercise restraint by not consenting to the
consecration'' of candidates ''whose manner of life presents a challenge to the
wider church.'' However, the measure is not binding.
Beckwith, of Worcester, Mass., had previously served in the Newark diocese in
Morristown and Hackensack. He must still be approved nationally by
diocesan standing committees, which are panels of local lay people and clergy
similar to a board of directors, and a majority of the more than 100 Episcopal
bishops who lead U.S. dioceses.
If approved, Beckwith will replace Bishop John Palmer Croneberger, who is
resigning to spend more time with his ill wife, diocese spokeswoman Rev. Sandye
Wilson said.
''I look forward to our next steps together and living among you as your
bishop,'' Beckwith said in a phone call broadcast to the gathering.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S. representative of the global Anglican
Communion.
|
