Tag Archives: Bishop Kevin Roberston

Ontario House of Bishops complains about Lambeth same-sex spouse ban

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The Ontario House of Bishops claims in the letter below that a “diversity of theological positions” lurks somewhere in its midst, ready to spring out and surprise everyone. To demonstrate this diversity, the bishops are all making the same point by signing a letter complaining that Bishop Kevin Robertson’s husband… wife?  let’s stick to the nondescript “spouse” has not been invited to Lambeth 2020.

Here is the diverse bunch, including, on the right, Michael Bird even though he is an ex-bishop. You will notice in the very centre is what appears to be a robotic bishop from whom, I suspect, flow all the deeper nuances of theological diversity that were used to program the drones surrounding it:

And here is the letter:

Anglican ripples of sorrow

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In a world where, for their faith, Christians are being persecuted, tortured, set on fire, beheaded, scorned, sued and, if they are the lucky ones, ignored, it takes a tragedy of cosmic proportions to send “ripples of sorrow” through a community already numbed by such tribulation.

And it has happened in Canada of all places. Toronto bishops are lamenting; their lachrymose wails can be heard echoing in the chilly sanctuaries of empty churches from Toronto to Niagara.

All because Bishop Kevin Robertson’s hubby was not invited to the party: the Lambeth 2020 party.

I have to stop now, my keyboard is covered in tears.

From here:

It has been a long tradition for bishops’ spouses to be invited to attend Lambeth as well. However, this bidding has not been extended to same-gender spouses, including Bishop Kevin Robertson’s spouse, Mr. Mohan Sharma. This act of exclusion is troubling to us. While we recognize that the issues involved in a decision of this nature are many-faceted, we wish to express our dismay and sadness at the pain that this causes all of us within the College of Bishops, but in particular Bishop Kevin and Mohan as our friends and co-labourers in the gospel. St. Paul expressed it well in 1 Corinthians 12:26, If one member suffers, all suffer together with it…

We also acknowledge that the Archbishop of Canterbury’s decision not only touches Bishop Kevin and Mohan directly, but also sends ripples of sorrow, both locally and globally, especially within the LGBTQ community. Our diocese is strengthened, inspired and deepened by the faith and witness of our LGBTQ clergy and laity. As St. Paul continues in verse 26, …if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.

The Cheshire Cat and the Bishop

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Last night I dreamt about this photo. In my dream, these three were Cheshire Cats. They were all mad; I must have been mad for being an Anglican like them; it didn’t matter which way we went we still ended up in the same place with gay married bishops everywhere.

As Anglicanism faded gently away in the West all that was left were the grins looming ghoulishly on the horizon. Until suddenly, our new primate, due to replace Fred Hiltz later in 2019, leapt into the scene, a Red Queen yelling “Off with their heads” at the few remaining conservatives still lurking in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Then I woke up in a sweat.

`Cheshire Puss,’ Alice began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. `Come, it’s pleased so far,’ thought Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’
`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.
`I don’t much care where–‘ said Alice.
`Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,’ said the Cat.
`–so long as I get SOMEWHERE,’ Alice added as an explanation.
`Oh, you’re sure to do that,’ said the Cat, `if you only walk long enough.’”

“`But I don’t want to go among mad people,’ Alice remarked.
`Oh, you can’t help that,’ said the Cat: `we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.’
`How do you know I’m mad?’ said Alice.
`You must be,’ said the Cat, `or you wouldn’t have come here.’
Alice didn’t think that proved it at all; however, she went on `And how do you know that you’re mad?’
`To begin with,’ said the Cat, `a dog’s not mad. You grant that?’
`I suppose so,’ said Alice.
`Well, then,’ the Cat went on, `you see, a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it’s pleased. Now I growl when I’m pleased, and wag my tail when I’m angry. Therefore I’m mad.’”

Bishop Susan Bell invited to Lambeth

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Justin Welby invited Bishop Kevin Roberston to Lambeth for a conference for new bishops this month, in spite of the fact that Robertson has married another man, flouting  the rules of the church that Welby purports to be in charge of.
In order to reinforce his studied indifference to the Lambeth 1998 Resolution 1.10 on human sexuality, Welby also invited the Diocese of Niagara’s Bishop Susan Bell, who officiated at the marriage of Robertson to Mohan Sharma.

There is a rumour circulating – yet to be confirmed – that not all of the remaining attendees are ecclesiastically entangled, directly or indirectly, in same-sex relationships, despite many claiming to be in the hope of enhancing the probability of promotion.