The first openly gay Episcopal bishop planned Wednesday to publicly urge the convention to reject the moratorium on gay bishops and any discrimination based on sexual orientation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The first openly gay Episcopal bishop says it is unlikely the church's top policymaking body will create new barriers for homosexual clergy despite turmoil over his 2003 consecration.
The Episcopal General Convention, which runs through June 21 in Columbus, must vote on whether to stop electing gay bishops for now so the embattled Anglican family can stay together.
"Most Episcopalians think that God's gay and lesbian children are every bit as worthwhile as the rest of God's children and they won't be willing to sacrifice gays and lesbians on the altar of unity," New Hampshire Bishop V. Gene Robinson told The Associated Press in an interview prior to the meeting, which began Tuesday.
Joined by national gay rights activists, Robinson planned Wednesday to publicly urge the convention to reject the moratorium on gay bishops and any discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church is the U.S. arm of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The majority of Anglican archbishops believe gay relationships violate Scripture and have been pressuring the Americans to adhere to that teaching or leave the communion.
The main proposal before the convention does not contain the moratorium that Anglican leaders are seeking. Instead, the measure asks dioceses to "exercise very considerable caution" in electing leaders. Delegates can revise or reject the legislation.
Robinson, who lives with his longtime male partner, said urging caution "does not tie the hands of the American church, but it does express our serious intention to be sensitive to the needs and concerns" of fellow Anglicans.
Episcopal leaders have never apologized for confirming Robinson; those who support ordaining gays contend the Bible does not bar monogamous same-gender relationships. But the denomination's leaders have repeatedly expressed regret for the turmoil his election caused.
"Do I wish that no caution were needed? Of course," Robinson said. "But that's not the world we live in."
The Rev. Tobias Haller, a New York City priest and voting convention member who supported Robinson's confirmation, hopes this week's gathering will bring both sides closer.
"It's very easy to write an angry blog comment, but it's another thing when you're sitting in the same room face to face with people," said Haller, pastor of St. James Church.
AP Religion Writer Rachel Zoll contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2006 The Associated Press.
Andrew Welsh-Huggins Associated Press Writer
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