There is a quote from a current book, The Purpose Driven Life, which says, “Other believers will disappoint you and let you down, but that is no excuse to stop fellowshipping with them. They are your family.”

During times of tension and trauma in the Church, the scriptures always give comfort. Ephesians 4:15 reminds us to “speak the truth in love and we will grow up in Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2 says for us to “correct one another with gentleness and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” The scriptures are filled with guidelines and directives about disagreement, mutual accountability and correction. Thus, the New Testament speaks very clearly about maintaining the unity of Christ and is also clear about avoiding disunity.

I am one of those persons who believe General Convention was wrong in consenting to the ordination of Canon Robinson. For me, this goes against the theology of creation, the theology of natural law, and contravenes the clear teaching of scripture. This action also stands against the received tradition, and threatens to rupture the fragile unity of the Church. It is my opinion that the General Convention is in error. However, this does not make us an apostate church. No General Convention can do that until it changes the Book of Common Prayer, for our theology resides in the scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer, and not in General Convention resolutions. Nor, in my opinion, is this action cause for further error – the error of schism. I believe in the indefectibility of the Church. (This is a theological term, not to be confused with infallibility.) Indefectibility means that over time and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church will correct itself. The Church has been in error before and will be in error again. There is no perfect Church, and there never will be as long as you and I are members, for all of us are sinners. Just as it was in Corinth and Galatia, our Church today has profound disagreements. The only part of the Church completely purged of error is the Church Triumphant in heaven.

Bishop Lee and I find ourselves in public disagreement about Canon Robinson’s confirmation. But thanks be to God, we live in a Church and in a diocese where disagreement is not only tolerated, but accepted and encouraged.

Bishop Lee has never asked me to vote in a particular way nor has he ever censored my remarks. I work first under God’s authority, then under the authority of Bishop Lee in this diocese, and I consider it a privilege to serve in this wonderful diocese. Bishop Lee has given 20 years of faithful service to this diocese and his ministry should not be judged on one vote alone. In letters to the bishop, some people have asked for resignation. Others have withdrawn pledges, and still others have said they are leaving this Church. My friend, William Frey, retired Bishop of Colorado, once said that there are times when the defense of virtue has all the exhilaration usually associated with the indulgence of a vice. Ecclesiastical money laundering is not right. It is a flawed principle of stewardship. The most dangerous thing that can happen is that the withholder runs the risk of falling into the trap of self-righteousness and hubris.

Further, it is our mission and ministry partners who will suffer the most by such actions. I Peter 5:5 reminds us to act with humility toward one another for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.

The Episcopal Church is a wonderful Church, flawed, but still beloved -- a church with great capacity for generosity and love. I do not feel called to abandon the field of public discourse to those with whom I disagree at the time when such discourse is so important.

There are limits to unity, for we must have boundaries or we will have chaos. For me, unity is more important than whether I am right or wrong. Unity is more important than self-righteousness. Unity is more important than my personal agendas. We must find God’s agenda – discernment, dialogue, disagreement. In the end, if we separate ourselves from those with whom we disagree, we will never be corrected and will ultimately become our own gods.

Thus, as Colossians says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Col. 3:12-14)