Bishop Gene Robinson in Glasgow

Categories: church

Tags: Bishop Gene Robinson, homosexuality, Christianity, church

Date: 04 August 2008 21:40:55

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the service at St Mary's Cathedral, where the preacher and presider was Bishop Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire. I was in two minds whether or not to attend, as I didn't want to go just because of a celebrity preacher. However, I figured that as the Anglican church is my church, and Bishop Gene is an important part of what is happening there at the moment, I would be mad not to take the opportunity to listen to what he had to say when he came to my back yard (well, a bus ride away, but you know what I mean!). And what a wonderful occasion it was too. There were a few protesters outside, looking rather glum and miserable, but they were easily ignored. [As an aside, is it wrong that I felt really smug that once inside the church we were all warm and dry, whilst outside the protesters got drenched? I guess it is wrong. But I still feel smug]. However once inside the church, the atmosphere was great - joyful, friendly, full of anticipation. The whole service continued in that vein - the sermon (preached without notes) was very much what I needed to hear, and the music and liturgy was wonderful. I suspect this is going to be one of the few occasions in my life where I ever hear a bishop getting a standing ovation. More details are on the cathedral's website, including the whole sermon, and on the blog of St Mary's Provost: What's in Kelvin's Head.