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A Church Divided

Aired August 04, 2003 - 14:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: At this hour, the Episcopal Church seems poised to take a final and divisive step, the House of Bishops preparing for a final vote on whether to confirm its first openly gay bishop.
CNN's Susan Candiotti is at the meeting in Minneapolis. We're going to get back to Susan in just a moment, when we are able to get through to her.

Meantime, the prospect of an openly gay bishop is getting a mixed reception even in Reverend Robinson's diocese in New Hampshire. He's the one who is up for selection to be the bishop of New Hampshire.

Karen Anderson of our affiliate WMUR sat in on Sunday's services in concord.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREN ANDERSON, WMUR REPORTER (voice-over): As they worship in Concord, a vote in Minneapolis is on many of these parishioners' minds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the people in New Hampshire, the Episcopalians, really, for the most part, want him to be our bishop. And I just want him to be my bishop.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm hoping. My fingers are crossed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a very different time.

ANDERSON: Parishioners at Saint Paul's Church in Concord often pray alongside Gene Robinson. Most, including Reverend David Jones, support his election as their bishop. But some, like Charles Thompson, have concerns.

CHARLES THOMPSON, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: It's a struggle for many of us individually.

REV. DAVID JONES, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: The people on the other side are not bad, homophobic reactionaries. And we need to remember that.

ANDERSON: Reverend Jones spoke directly about the votes before the service began. He asked both sides to respect each other. And his sermon discussed the challenges of change.

JONES: It's hard work to stay together with people you may not agree with. But that's what the Christian message says to do. So we need to do that.

ANDERSON: Jones says he expects to lose some parishioners, no matter what the outcome in Minnesota. Thompson says he will remain in his church, whatever the vote.

THOMPSON: Ultimately, we have to look to see what God's will is in this whole thing.

ROBIN BROADBENT, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: I feel honored to be a part of a Christian community that can take something on like this.

ANDERSON (on camera): Episcopal priests are asking their parishioners not to celebrate, but to be humble about the outcome of Monday's third and final vote.

In Concord, Karen Anderson, WMUR News 9.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: As we said a moment ago, the church preparing for that final vote.

CNN's Susan Candiotti has been following the developments in Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: For one hour, 106 bishops will be debating the issue before casting paper ballots in a decision that could have worldwide repercussions in the Anglican community. For his part, Reverend Gene Robinson says he has answered all the questions he can and that he is humbled by Sunday's vote that got him this far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we have two wonderful opportunities. One is to say to the world, this Episcopal church is wide open. There is no one beyond God's love and you are welcome here. We mean what it says in our sign signs. The Episcopal church welcomes you.

CANDIOTTI: (voice-over): Reverend Robinson says he hopes the bishops will feel emboldened by Sunday's vote, when 800 clergy and laypeople voted in his favor. All he needs is a simple majority, but it won't be easy. Some people are predicting a split within the church, adding that, if he is elevated to bishop, there will be a dramatic line that has been crossed in the Episcopal Church. Still others add, however, that the church would survive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anglicanism, of which the Episcopal Church is the United States' constituent member, is a very broad and comprehensive church. We are a church that has -- is an inclusive, loving community that embraces many and has weathered the storms of controversies in the past. So it will be difficult, no question about it. And we shouldn't minimize the severity of this vote.

CANDIOTTI: Following Sunday's vote, Reverend Robinson's grown daughter Ella said she was proud of her father and supports him. He was married for 13 years before becoming involved in a relationship, a long-term one, for 14 years with another man. As one of his supporters put it, fear is the absence of fate, but opponents say they're not afraid. They are concerned, because, they maintain, his relationship violates scripture.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 4, 2003 - 14:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: At this hour, the Episcopal Church seems poised to take a final and divisive step, the House of Bishops preparing for a final vote on whether to confirm its first openly gay bishop.
CNN's Susan Candiotti is at the meeting in Minneapolis. We're going to get back to Susan in just a moment, when we are able to get through to her.

Meantime, the prospect of an openly gay bishop is getting a mixed reception even in Reverend Robinson's diocese in New Hampshire. He's the one who is up for selection to be the bishop of New Hampshire.

Karen Anderson of our affiliate WMUR sat in on Sunday's services in concord.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREN ANDERSON, WMUR REPORTER (voice-over): As they worship in Concord, a vote in Minneapolis is on many of these parishioners' minds.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the people in New Hampshire, the Episcopalians, really, for the most part, want him to be our bishop. And I just want him to be my bishop.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm hoping. My fingers are crossed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a very different time.

ANDERSON: Parishioners at Saint Paul's Church in Concord often pray alongside Gene Robinson. Most, including Reverend David Jones, support his election as their bishop. But some, like Charles Thompson, have concerns.

CHARLES THOMPSON, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: It's a struggle for many of us individually.

REV. DAVID JONES, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: The people on the other side are not bad, homophobic reactionaries. And we need to remember that.

ANDERSON: Reverend Jones spoke directly about the votes before the service began. He asked both sides to respect each other. And his sermon discussed the challenges of change.

JONES: It's hard work to stay together with people you may not agree with. But that's what the Christian message says to do. So we need to do that.

ANDERSON: Jones says he expects to lose some parishioners, no matter what the outcome in Minnesota. Thompson says he will remain in his church, whatever the vote.

THOMPSON: Ultimately, we have to look to see what God's will is in this whole thing.

ROBIN BROADBENT, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH: I feel honored to be a part of a Christian community that can take something on like this.

ANDERSON (on camera): Episcopal priests are asking their parishioners not to celebrate, but to be humble about the outcome of Monday's third and final vote.

In Concord, Karen Anderson, WMUR News 9.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOODRUFF: As we said a moment ago, the church preparing for that final vote.

CNN's Susan Candiotti has been following the developments in Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: For one hour, 106 bishops will be debating the issue before casting paper ballots in a decision that could have worldwide repercussions in the Anglican community. For his part, Reverend Gene Robinson says he has answered all the questions he can and that he is humbled by Sunday's vote that got him this far.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we have two wonderful opportunities. One is to say to the world, this Episcopal church is wide open. There is no one beyond God's love and you are welcome here. We mean what it says in our sign signs. The Episcopal church welcomes you.

CANDIOTTI: (voice-over): Reverend Robinson says he hopes the bishops will feel emboldened by Sunday's vote, when 800 clergy and laypeople voted in his favor. All he needs is a simple majority, but it won't be easy. Some people are predicting a split within the church, adding that, if he is elevated to bishop, there will be a dramatic line that has been crossed in the Episcopal Church. Still others add, however, that the church would survive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anglicanism, of which the Episcopal Church is the United States' constituent member, is a very broad and comprehensive church. We are a church that has -- is an inclusive, loving community that embraces many and has weathered the storms of controversies in the past. So it will be difficult, no question about it. And we shouldn't minimize the severity of this vote.

CANDIOTTI: Following Sunday's vote, Reverend Robinson's grown daughter Ella said she was proud of her father and supports him. He was married for 13 years before becoming involved in a relationship, a long-term one, for 14 years with another man. As one of his supporters put it, fear is the absence of fate, but opponents say they're not afraid. They are concerned, because, they maintain, his relationship violates scripture.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com