Gene Robinson is apparently upset that he has not been invited to attend the Bishops’ conference at Lambeth this year.1 The theological differences between Bishop Robinson and evangelical Anglicans over homosexuality are well-known and well-traversed. But what I find interesting is what this report reveals about the different way he views Anglican polity. He refers to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, as his “chief pastor and shepherd”. I seriously doubt you’d ever hear Peter Jensen or any evangelical bishops from around the world referring to Rowan Williams as their “chief pastor and shepherd”. For a start, that’s not how they would understand the official relationship between their church and Canterbury. But secondly and more importantly, I think they’d probably think that there is someone better qualified to be their chief pastor and shepherd—someone who sits on a heavenly throne, not a throne in Canterbury. Where might they get suchan idea? Well, one place would be The Book of Common Prayer service for the consecration of a Bishop where Jesus is referred to as the “chief Shepherd”. They’d also get it from the Bible (e.g. Ezek 34:15, John 10:11).
The other curious thing about the Gene Robinson quote in the article is that he likens himself to the “lost sheep”. Um, Gene, wasn’t the lost sheep the one who had “gone astray”, who was in danger of “perishing”, and who needed to be saved—in short, the “sinner” who needed to “repent” (Matt 18:12-14, Luke 15:4-7)?
Endnote
1. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/church-closedto-gay-bishop/2008/03/11/1205125884009.html.↩
