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The Episcopal Diocese of Utah weighed in this week on news that the first openly gay bishop of the Episcopal Church is, at least for now, off the invitation list for a worldwide Anglican Communion conference.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, who heads the 77 million-member Anglican Communion (which includes the Episcopal Church), issued more than 800 invitations to the 2008 Lambeth Conference, a gathering of bishops that happens once every 10 years. Not on the list: Bishop V. Gene Robinson of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.
Robinson, who is openly gay, was consecrated in 2003, and the move by the Episcopal Church fueled ongoing tensions within the Anglican Communion.
Bishop Carolyn Tanner Irish of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah has been a strong supporter of Robinson. Irish was out of the country and could not be reached for comment, but a statement issued Wednesday by the Utah diocese called the shunning "an extremely rare historic occurrence" and "deeply hurtful."
"To single him out because of his sexuality shows a regrettable lack of respect for his diocese," the statement read.
The Rev. Mary June Nestler said that of the more than 200 bishops in the United States, she knew of no other who was excluded from the invitation list.
In a statement Robinson issued, he said: "At a time when the Anglican Communion is calling for a 'listening process' on the issue of homosexuality, it makes no sense to exclude gay and lesbian people from that conversation. It is time that the Bishops of the Anglican Communion stop talking about gay and lesbian people and start talking to us."
Utah's Nestler said there remains a chance that Robinson will be invited to the conference as a guest, but not as a full participant like other bishops.
With the conference more than a year away - it's scheduled for July 2008 - Nestler said it's too soon to say how Episcopal bishops, including Irish, will respond as the date draws nearer. She did say she's heard "a number of bishops float the possibility that if Gene were not invited they would not attend." But, at the same time, she said many are saying they should make a point of being there to speak out on Robinson's behalf and about issues of discrimination.