Written by Gene Robinson
$25; Seabury Books; 192 pages
REVIEW BY WILLIAM BURKS
Gene Robinson, the gay Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire, spent part of a recent sabbatical writing a book timed for release shortly before the Anglican Church's once-a-decade Lambeth Conference and his own plans for a civil union with his partner this summer.
Aptly titled, In the Eye of the Storm is a serene apologia for Robinson's own deep faith, formed from years of perfect Sunday-school attendance in his rural Kentucky birthplace and deeply influenced by the faith of his parents and the small Disciples of Christ church in which he grew up. The book is his answer—given without bitterness—to those in his own Anglican Communion who view him as a pariah. The charity with which he writes contrasts with the statements of his chief enemy, Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola, who is reported having stated he only shook the hands of a homosexual once, and withdrew his hand in horror as the man began introducing his 'life partner' to the cleric.
One must understand something of Anglicanism's theology of the church to appreciate how significant the very presence of a partnered, ( i.e., presumably sexually-active ) openly-gay bishop is to the church and beyond. Believing that its bishops are in direct 'apostolic succession' to the first 12 disciples of Christ ( only Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians share this view of the office of bishop ) , Anglicans must come to terms with the idea of the Holy Spirit leading the church in a new direction if they accept Robinson's ordination.
Robinson himself references the Biblical text in John in which Jesus promises his disciples that the Father will lead them into all truth: 'I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Sprit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.' Over time, the church has accepted this leading of the spirit, Robinson argues, including the ordination of women to the historic episcopate and priesthood a mere 30 years ago. In 2003, the Holy Spirit, acting through the prayerful decision of the people of the Diocese of New Hampshire and the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, led the church to fully accept its gay and lesbian brothers and sisters as full equals in the church's highest ministerial office.
A spiritual autobiography and apologia, it seeks to dispel the fear that Robison sees at the root of the rejection by parts of his denomination and the potential break-up of communion. In the book's first chapter, 'The Elephant in the room: Homosexuality and the Church,' he reviews the familiar ground of GLBT acceptance in the church, arguing that now is the time for full acceptance.
What holds many from fully accepting GLBT folk is not homophobia, he believes, but 'the sin of heterosexism' which is rooted in misogyny. Comparing heterosexism to racism and sexism, he eloquently argues that 'Racism isn't just fear and loathing of non-white people; it's the systemic network of laws, customs, and beliefs that perpetuate prejudicial treatment of people of color. I benefit every day from being white in this culture. I don't have to hate anyone, or call anyone a hateful name, or do any harm to a person of color to benefit from a racist society. I just have to sit back and reap the rewards of a system set up to benefit me. I can even be tolerant, open-minded and multi-culturally sensitive. But as long as I'm not working to dismantle the system, I am racist.'
The same, of course, is true with heterosexism. As heterosexism begins to erode in society, however, 'things are never then same when the oppressed claim—and receive—their voice. It's no wonder the resistance is so fierce, given that we're changing a system that's been in place almost forever.'
Robinson's own Christian faith—perhaps surprising to some—is quite mainstream and orthodox, and he accepts the authority of the Bible while insisting that it must be understood within its historical context. 'They are faithful accounts of the indescribable,' he write of the scriptures; 'they are words used to recount that for which there are no words: the mystery of God.'
Robinson's own stories woven into his book are moving, mystery- and spirit-filled ones, such as when he gives communion for the first time to a fellow priest who had often voiced his longstanding disagreement with Robinson's ministry as a divorced and openly-gay man.
'As I was saying the words of consecration, it occurred to me that this wonderful, faithful priest would soon have to present himself to me to received the Body of Christ, and I knew he must be experiencing conflicting emotions because of that. But sure enough, there he was waiting his turn to receive communion from my hands. When I place the bread in his outstretched hands and said, 'The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven,' we both burst into tears. In that moment I know that somehow, it was going to be all right.' The same priest went on to suggest that the 'clergy and spouses' conference in the diocese be renamed the 'clergy and partners' conference.
Robinson views ministry as requiring particular care for the marginalized and outcasts of society. Every Christmas Eve since his consecration, he spends the evening and celebrates the Eucharist with the women of the New Hampshire State Prison for Women. His first visit came as a result of a note after his election from an inmate who wrote, 'I am neither gay nor Christian, but here is something in your election that makes me believe that there is a community 'out there' who might love me, despite what I've done.' He describes his experiences with the women as humbling, 'I feel so blessed when I am with them that I always feel they are the ones who have ministered to me.'
Bishop Gene Robinson's work deserves to become a classic among books concerning homosexuality and Christianity simply by reason of its being a first by the one openly-gay bishop. The way it reflects the centeredness, serenity and charm of a loving, compassionate man committed to justice for all God's children only adds to its significance. Resurrection happens every day when minds and hearts are open to seeing things in a new way, Robinson believes, and his book tells of how new life can come to individuals and churches open to receive it.