Gay churchman says God called him to be a bishop

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By Elizabeth Day
(Filed: 06/11/2005)

Gene Robinson, the first openly homosexual bishop in the Anglican church, claimed yesterday that he had been "called by God" to become a gay bishop.

Bishop Robinson's comments, which were made during a controversial visit to Britain, were dismissed as "spiritually dangerous" by a leading evangelical organisation.

Upon reflection: Bishop Robinson speaks about his homosexuality
The bishop, consecrated in the American Episcopalian diocese of New Hampshire, in the United States, two years ago, said that after 13 years of a conventional, heterosexual marriage he had "begun to deal with the fact that I just could not suppress this any longer".

"I've got to be honest," he said at a church service to mark the 10th anniversary of the gay and lesbian Anglican group, Changing Attitude, in central London. "I felt God was calling me out … God is always calling us to a place of integrity."

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