New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson told parishioners at a Meredith church that he’s glad to be back home following a major conference for bishops in England, where he received both support and resistance.
Robinson is the Episcopal church’s first openly gay bishop. He visited Trinity Episcopal Church on Tuesday, officiating a confirmation and reception service.
He preached on the importance of recognizing one’s spiritual vocation in everyday life and work.
Robinson recently returned from the Lambeth Conference in Canterbury, England, an assembly of Anglican bishops that takes place once every 10 years.
He says it accomplished what it set out to do, which was to build relationships.
Robinson’s presence was itself the result of struggle and determination. He was not formally invited to this year’s conference by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican Church, though he still attended.