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In this photo released by the
Episcopal Diocese of California the Rev. Michael Barlowe,
a candidate to become the bishop of the Episcopal diocese of Newark, N.J.
is seen on May 3, 2006. Barlowe, an openly gay Episcopal priest, is among six
candidates for bishop of Newark at a time when divisions over the Bible and sexuality are
threatening the denomination and the worldwide Anglican family. (AP
Photo/Episcopal Diocese of California)
Why isn’t the winner’s photo depicted here?
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09-23-2006 1:48 PM
By CHRIS NEWMARKER, Associated Press Writer
NEWARK, N.J.
-- Avoiding further controversy in the worldwide Anglican
family, the Episcopal Diocese of Newark on Saturday chose a Massachusetts
priest as their new bishop, rather than an
openly gay candidate on the ballot.
The Rev. Mark Beckwith, 54, won on the third ballot, taking 253, or about
53 percent of the 477 ballots cast by clergy and lay representatives. [So, was the vote
close?]
[No, the vote was not even close:] Canon Michael Barlowe, 51, an openly gay priest from California,
only had one vote [!!], cast by a lay person, in the final round.
Even in the first round, he only had
40 votes, 16 from clergy and 24 from lay people.
The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton, an openly gay priest
at St. Paul's Church in Chatham,
felt Beckwith was the best choice to lead the diocese, but thought the global
Anglican community's pressure on the American church to avoid more gay
bishops was an "elephant in the room."
She thought it was sad that "someone of the caliber of Michael Barlowe had such a poor showing."
Barlowe is currently an officer for
congregational development for the Diocese of California in San
Francisco.
The election in the historically liberal diocese came at a time when
divisions over the Bible and sexuality are threatening the denomination and
the worldwide Anglican family. [But apparently it wasn’t
threatening the Diocese of Newark.
Should it have been?]
A win by Barlowe would have put the diocese at
the center of a crisis over whether Anglicans who disagree about ordaining
gays can stay in the same fellowship. [
And if a bunch of homophobic skin-heads came into the
meeting and shot it up, that would have been big news, but that didn’t happen
either…]
The feud erupted in the Anglican community in 2003, after the Episcopal
Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New
Hampshire. [The
problem is, that gay was apparently not the issue in Newark,
so…it being a slow news day, what can the media stir
into the pot?]
In June, the Episcopal General Convention, the church's top policy-making
body, voted to ask U.S.
bishops to "exercise restraint by not consenting to the
consecration" of candidates "whose manner of life presents a challenge
to the wider church." However, the measure is not binding.
Beckwith, of Worcester, Mass.,
had previously served in the Newark
diocese in Morristown and Hackensack.
He must still be approved nationally by diocesan standing committees, which
are panels of local lay people and clergy similar to a board of directors,
and a majority of the more than 100 Episcopal bishops who lead U.S.
dioceses.
If approved, Beckwith will replace Bishop John Palmer Croneberger,
who is resigning to spend more time with his ill wife, diocese spokeswoman
Rev. Sandye Wilson said.
"I look forward to our next steps together and living among you as
your bishop," Beckwith said in a phone call broadcast to the gathering.
The Episcopal Church is the U.S.
representative of the global Anglican Communion.
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights
reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or
redistributed.
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