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American Morning

Interview With John Bryson Chane

Aired October 17, 2003 - 09:23   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Anglican leaders are pressuring the U.S. Episcopal Church not to consecrate its first openly gay bishop. They say the unity of the worldwide denomination would be threatened if reverend Gene Robinson is consecrated the first part of November.
After a two-day emergency session, the group expressed, quote, "pain and uncertainty about Robinson's election," but it stopped short of recommending any disciplinary action.

The Reverend John Bryson Chane, bishop of Washington is here to talk about the Anglican communion statement and more on this. And there's some strong language in that statement, too, Bishop Chane. I want to read it for our viewers.

"If the consecration proceeds, we have to conclude that the future of the communion itself will be put in jeopardy." The actions of the U.S. church, quote, "will tear at the fabric of our church at the deepest level."

What do you make of these comments? Is there a split forthcoming in your church?

BISHOP JOHN BRYSON CHANE, DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON: I really don't think we're going to see a split in the church. I think that -- also, within the statement that you read, there's another paragraph which talks about being respectful of the autonomy of the provinces of the communion.

And also the fact that the primates have asked for the Archbishop of Canterbury to pull together a commission that would study the issues of authority, canon law and also address the hard issues that the broad Anglican communion worldwide will have to face in the years to come, not only this issue but other issues.

HEMMER: So if New Hampshire continues along this route, and we believe it's going to happen on the 2nd of November, do other aspects of your church follow suit?

CHANE: In terms of?

HEMMER: Do other diocese, do they pick up the ball where New Hampshire left off and go with them which creates this...

(CROSSTALK)

CHANE: No, I really don't think so. I think that this is a matter where, this is a priest who was canon to the ordinary, who's been very well known in that diocese, served that diocese for many years, has been a priest for many years. And he was elected on the second ballot, which is usually a mandate in the diocese.

I don't see this as being, you know, an event that's going to lead to other consecrations. It's really based on the personality and the ability of the person elected to be in a bishop in the church.

HEMMER: What you're saying is that it's an isolated case. Do the members of the church think the same way?

CHANE: Well, I think some would say no, some would say yes. I think the reality that the Episcopal Church and the Anglican communion have to deal with is that we've always had gay bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican communion. They just haven't been open about it.

And Gene Robinson has been extremely open about it. Not as in your face way, but saying, This is who I am, as both a Christian and as a priest of the church. And you can accept me for who I am, or you can reject me for who I am.

And the people of New Hampshire said, We accept you for who you are. We love you.

HEMMER: Bishop Chane, you seem to indicate that it's just another chapter in the long history of your church. It's not necessarily a turning point or a pivot point. Is that an accurate read?

CHANE: I think that's an accurate read. I've been in the church for a long time as an ordained person. And I can remember being in Massachusetts when Barbara Harris, our first woman bishop in the Anglican communion, was about to be consecrated.

There were death threats against her. She had to wear a bulletproof vest. And we were told at that time that the church was really going to split, be engaged in schism because a woman was being consecrated bishop, first woman in the worldwide Anglican communion.

And we've worked through that process. And I think we're going to work through this process quite well.

HEMMER: Bishop John Bryson Chane, we'll all see. About 15 days away from it becoming official in the state of New Hampshire. Thank you for your time today.

CHANE: You're very, very welcome. Thank you.

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 October 17, 2003 - 09:23   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Anglican leaders are pressuring the U.S. Episcopal Church not to consecrate its first openly gay bishop. They say the unity of the worldwide denomination would be threatened if reverend Gene Robinson is consecrated the first part of November.
After a two-day emergency session, the group expressed, quote, "pain and uncertainty about Robinson's election," but it stopped short of recommending any disciplinary action.

The Reverend John Bryson Chane, bishop of Washington is here to talk about the Anglican communion statement and more on this. And there's some strong language in that statement, too, Bishop Chane. I want to read it for our viewers.

"If the consecration proceeds, we have to conclude that the future of the communion itself will be put in jeopardy." The actions of the U.S. church, quote, "will tear at the fabric of our church at the deepest level."

What do you make of these comments? Is there a split forthcoming in your church?

BISHOP JOHN BRYSON CHANE, DIOCESE OF WASHINGTON: I really don't think we're going to see a split in the church. I think that -- also, within the statement that you read, there's another paragraph which talks about being respectful of the autonomy of the provinces of the communion.

And also the fact that the primates have asked for the Archbishop of Canterbury to pull together a commission that would study the issues of authority, canon law and also address the hard issues that the broad Anglican communion worldwide will have to face in the years to come, not only this issue but other issues.

HEMMER: So if New Hampshire continues along this route, and we believe it's going to happen on the 2nd of November, do other aspects of your church follow suit?

CHANE: In terms of?

HEMMER: Do other diocese, do they pick up the ball where New Hampshire left off and go with them which creates this...

(CROSSTALK)

CHANE: No, I really don't think so. I think that this is a matter where, this is a priest who was canon to the ordinary, who's been very well known in that diocese, served that diocese for many years, has been a priest for many years. And he was elected on the second ballot, which is usually a mandate in the diocese.

I don't see this as being, you know, an event that's going to lead to other consecrations. It's really based on the personality and the ability of the person elected to be in a bishop in the church.

HEMMER: What you're saying is that it's an isolated case. Do the members of the church think the same way?

CHANE: Well, I think some would say no, some would say yes. I think the reality that the Episcopal Church and the Anglican communion have to deal with is that we've always had gay bishops in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican communion. They just haven't been open about it.

And Gene Robinson has been extremely open about it. Not as in your face way, but saying, This is who I am, as both a Christian and as a priest of the church. And you can accept me for who I am, or you can reject me for who I am.

And the people of New Hampshire said, We accept you for who you are. We love you.

HEMMER: Bishop Chane, you seem to indicate that it's just another chapter in the long history of your church. It's not necessarily a turning point or a pivot point. Is that an accurate read?

CHANE: I think that's an accurate read. I've been in the church for a long time as an ordained person. And I can remember being in Massachusetts when Barbara Harris, our first woman bishop in the Anglican communion, was about to be consecrated.

There were death threats against her. She had to wear a bulletproof vest. And we were told at that time that the church was really going to split, be engaged in schism because a woman was being consecrated bishop, first woman in the worldwide Anglican communion.

And we've worked through that process. And I think we're going to work through this process quite well.

HEMMER: Bishop John Bryson Chane, we'll all see. About 15 days away from it becoming official in the state of New Hampshire. Thank you for your time today.

CHANE: You're very, very welcome. Thank you.

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