The era of "straight, white, western, privileged males" making "decisions for all of the world" is coming to an end as society becomes more inclusive of diverse groups, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopalian Church argued in a lecture yesterday.
Vicki Gene Robinson — who sparked controversy in 2003 after becoming bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire despite his sexual orientation — recalled his story and experiences, discussed homosexuality's role in the church and speculated about the future in a lecture titled "The End of Patriarchy."
Robinson said some people oppose homosexuality in order to mask more real societal problems.
"One of the reasons we are focusing on homosexuality is so that we don't have to focus on sexuality," he said. "I think we're maybe looking at a massive denial and avoidance mechanism for confronting real issues around human sexuality that all of us need to be involved in," such as the rising divorce rate and infidelity.
Born in 1947 to a family of tobacco sharecroppers in Kentucky, Robinson grew up in poverty, without access to running water until he was 10. Despite such circumstances, he became the valedictorian of his high school class. It was during this time, Robinson said, that he became more skeptical about the Disciples of Christ denomination in which he had been raised.
"I began to question the way that my church helped me to look at the world," Robinson said.
While attending Sewanee University, he discovered the Episcopalian Church, which he said he was drawn to because of its focus on combining reason and faith.
"The Episcopal church is like advanced placement religion," he said. "It's like this faith for adults ... you don't have to check your brain at the door."
After graduating Sewanee, Robinson attended theological seminary in Manhattan, where he began questioning his sexual orientation. At that time, however, "there were no role models, no public examples of anyone [gay] who led a happy healthy life," so he tried to suppress his same-sex attractions.
He attended therapy for his homosexuality and eventually married and had two children. Before marrying, he said, he told his then-fiancee that all his relationships had been with men, but he was ready to be with a woman. After 13 years of marriage, however, "we came to the decision that we needed to let each other go."
After coming out in the 1980s, Robinson continued to ascend the ranks of the Episcopal Church before his election to the diocese of New Hampshire in 2003. His sexuality made him feel isolated at times, he said. "I've come to know what it feels like to be one of the Israelites in the desert," he said. "God kept them there so that God could teach them to become dependent upon God and not themselves."
It was the 2003 appointment, however, that forced Robinson into the worldwide spotlight. Though some Episcopalians fiercely protested his appointment and conservative elements within the church threatened a schism, Robinson said he has become stronger because of the experience.
"I'm doing great," he said. "I figure that it's the best revenge, partly because I feel that it's a blessing [to be in my current position]."
Robinson also discussed what he described as a link between "heterosexism" and misogyny. "Homophobia is one small room in the larger hotel of misogyny," he said, quoting Steven Greenberg, the first openly gay orthodox Jewish rabbi.
Tim Hughes, who is a student at the Princeton Theological Seminary and attended the lecture, said he was impressed by Robinson's fortitude.
"It's so inspiring," Hughes said. "This is a cultural mile marker. He strikes me as incredibly humble, considering what he is doing."
The lecture was sponsored by the Episcopal Church at Princeton University.
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