Jesus Christ was crucified because he was feared to be a political revolutionary, a controversial openly gay Episcopal Church bishop preached at a worship service of a formerly large, traditionalist parish outside of Washington, D.C.
“Jesus was not crucified because he preached ‘love thy neighbor as thyself,’ he was crucified by the Romans because he was a threat to their political structure,” retired Episcopal Church Bishop Gene Robinson preached at The Falls Church Episcopal (TFCE) in Falls Church, Virginia on Sunday, October 30. “He could have easily led a revolution against the government.”
The former bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire forcefully argued for the centrality of political action within the life of the church, reciting a litany of policies favored by the political Left as the correct application of biblical justice. He also highlighted gratitude for an invitation to speak at a parish that had prominently opposed his election and consecration.
“Words fail me when I try to describe to you what an honor it is to be here,” Robinson exclaimed. “When I got this invitation from [TFCE Rector] Burl [Salmon] I could hardly believe my ears and all day yesterday. When I was here, I just kept pinching myself: ‘you’re actually at the Falls Church in Virginia, oh my God.’”
“There is no greater figure identified with the struggle for justice for queer people of faith than Bishop Robinson, and his election and consecration as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2003 was the deciding factor for some Episcopalians, unhappy with the broadening inclusion of this tradition, to break away from the church and affiliate with bodies outside the Anglican Communion. The Falls Church was one of those parishes,” Salmon wrote to parishioners in advance of Robinson’s visit.
The majority of members of The Falls Church departed the historic property in 2012 following a court decision to award ownership of the disputed buildings and parish financial accounts to the Episcopal Church. Those former Episcopalians argued that election and consecration of a bishop in a same-sex partnership was a presenting issue for deeper disagreement about the authority of scripture and the identity of Jesus as the unique Son of God. The Falls Church Anglican completed a new campus in 2019 and is a parish of the Anglican Church in North America.
‘Raging Streams of Injustice’
Robinson processed on Sunday morning past rows of empty pews in a sanctuary built to seat 800 for what was once among the most-attended parishes in the Episcopal Church.
In noting the morning’s reading of Isaiah chapter 1, Robinson dismissed sexual “perversion” as a chief objection of the Old Testament prophet against the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, instead insisting that it was a lack of hospitality.
“Somebody had to work really hard to define it as having something to do with sexual perversion, because right in the text from Isaiah and reconfirmed in the Book of Ezekiel are these words: ‘this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: this was the guilt she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and needy.’ I’m guessing that describes a lot of us, so welcome to the world of sodomites,” Robinson interpreted. “God found that worthy of destruction. That’s why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.”
Robinson pivoted to focus on Isaiah’s words to seek justice and correct oppression.
“Justice, you see, is systemic work,” Robinson preached. “There are lots of raging streams of injustice.”
“Well now we’ve crossed the line haven’t we? We’ve brought politics into church. I don’t know a single clergy person who has not been criticized for bringing politics into the church, but here’s the truth: justice work is politics. How we treat one another, our fellow citizens, is politics and it’s part of being Christ-like,” Robinson declared. “We’re either fighting injustice or we’re collaborating with it.”
Robinson additionally spoke at a forum the morning of Saturday, October 29, recounting his experience as the first openly partnered gay man elected to be a bishop in the Episcopal Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. A Washington Post reporter dutifully provided coverage of the Saturday forum but struggled to find a newsworthy angle as “Bishop Gene Robinson stood before dozens” recounting events now nearly two decades past.
Robinson and his husband divorced in 2014. The denomination has shrunk from a high of 3.6 million adherents in the mid-1960s to 1.5 million today, with attendance having plummeted to 458,179 in 2020. In Robinson’s New Hampshire diocese alone, he witnessed a nearly 20 percent drop in membership during his nine-year tenure — outpacing the church’s national decline.
Robinson served as a Senior Fellow at the liberal think tank Center for American Progress following his retirement. During his Sunday morning sermon, he upheld his own small parish, St. Thomas Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., which has a chapel named in honor of him, as a model for biblical justice.
“On Saturdays we greet the busloads of migrants shipped to us by the governor of Texas [Greg Abbott] in hopes to shame us into changing the immigration laws.”
Robinson claimed that racism “haunts our entire society” and that “democracy is so on the line and in such jeopardy.” He urged “disavowing what can only be described as white Christian nationalism” and “fighting your [Virginia] Governor [Glenn Youngkin]’s attempts to lessen the protections for transgender kids.”
Cash Crunch
It remained unclear what more TFCE could potentially do in order to distance itself from those who chose to depart the Episcopal Church. The congregation hosted the first ordination service of an openly gay priest by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia in 2012 and in 2014 the blessing of a same-sex union. In 2020, the congregation welcomed its first priest in a same-sex marriage to serve as an associate rector, and in 2021 called its first rector in a same-sex marriage. All current clergy at TFCE identify as gay, and Salmon has sought to form an LGBTQ outreach called the Queer Faithful. Progress flags (a variation of the pride flag) have been placed on the parish signage alongside the Black Lives Matter logo. Salmon serves as chair of the Clergy Advocacy Board of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
Financial challenges became more pronounced at TFCE in the past year. The church reduced two staff positions, including the parish administrator, to half-time while slashing its outreach budget and diocesan contribution.
“We simply have reduced giving,” Salmon told the congregation on July 24. “The markets have been difficult.”
As a parish, TFCE previously pledged approximately 8 percent of “plate and pledge” revenue to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. The longtime Director of Music announced her resignation soon after that position was scaled back.
“The fundamental core of our imbalance is that we spend over $900,000 on staffing and administration compared to total giving of around $600,000,” TFCE Treasurer James Weatherly told parishioners at the July worship service.
“Our pledge revenue is well below budget,” Salmon wrote the congregation in a July 28 e-mail newsletter. “The parish must make adjustments in expenditures.”
The parish has operated in the red for the past decade, approving a $280,000 deficit for the 2022 budget. That recurring deficit is offset by the Dayspring Fund, money that was in the accounts of The Falls Church at the time of the parish split and was awarded by court action to the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia at the conclusion of litigation. Much of those funds had been raised as part of a capital campaign suspended in 2003 for the construction of an education and family ministries wing planned for the Southgate property across East Fairfax Street from the church.
The Southgate property has since been converted to commercial space in cooperation with a real estate developer. Since assuming control of the downtown Falls Church campus, the Episcopal congregation rebuilt from 142 attendees in 2012 to a reported average Sunday attendance of 354 in 2020 (Update: 115 in 2021). The pre-split congregation’s average attendance was nearly 1,700 with an annual budget of approximately $5 million (Falls Church Anglican has an operating budget of $7.45 million).
“There is some greater thing at work in the cosmos,” Salmon wrote to parishioners. “As a person of faith who has seen Her immense power, I have come to understand that thing at work is the Holy Spirit, alive and unpredictable and capable of the impossible.”
“God makes all things new, and the Holy Spirit has been at work in The Falls Church to build a community defined by radical welcome,” Salmon continued. “Give praise to the Holy Spirit, who has brought the Bishop and The Falls Church together at last. God is indeed doing a new thing!”
UPDATE [11/30/2022]: The 2023 pledge campaign is being “kept open” as it is at 70% of goal. Those who gave in past years increased their previous pledges substantially, but there are fewer pledge units. See: https://youtu.be/z4hqyQ245DU?t=2543
Comment by Tom on November 2, 2022 at 5:39 pm
“Our pledge revenue is well below budget,”
Why on earth do you suppose that could be?
Comment by Jeffrey Walton on November 3, 2022 at 12:26 pm
Like many mainline Protestant churches, TFCE was shuttered to in-person worship far longer than other churches in the same community. That unquestionably hurt their plate-and-pledge revenue. Similarly, they’ve lost people since the retirement of previous rector John Ohmer and the appointment of an interim rector who was, to be candid, a dud. Ohmer and I may have theological differences, but he was a successful rector at St. James Leesburg and again at TFCE. St. James dropped from attendance of 545 when Ohmer was last there in 2011 down to 272 in 2020. I think we’re seeing the same thing unfold at TFCE: Ohmer steadily grew the congregation’s attendance from about 130 in 2013 up to 354 in 2020, and now it appears to be in a state of decline following his 2020 departure. I must acknowledge that almost every church faced setbacks during the period of COVID restriction. Some quickly rebounded, others did so more gradually, and for some the restrictions hastened a downturn.
It’s difficult and uncommon for Episcopal parishes to maintain attendance of more than 200 persons, since a rector cannot know everyone. It requires the development of a programmatic structure and involved lay leadership — something TFCE under Ohmer was able to achieve. We know that COVID restrictions hit TFCE so hard that they lost momentum and funding, which are now negatively impacting the ability of the parish to employ full-time personnel in key positions. Burl Salmon seems to believe that doubling down on a progressive activist identity for the parish will draw in more people — a different vision than Ohmer had. Time will tell if his leadership restores the church to it’s pre-COVID vibrancy, or if the church instead settles into a gradual decline that has characterized the past two years.
Comment by David Mu on November 2, 2022 at 6:42 pm
The thing is, while I can’t be an supporter of the right-side of modern organized religion, I find Robinson and his church supporters – well – just plain boring. In fact, at least the right-side religion is generally constant, Robinson and the left-side religion followers go from cause to cause going ever weirder. Transgender, for example, is not a gay rights issue. It never was – but for the leftist it is to the point of going over the side of the mountain. Robinson and crowd have gone so far that increasingly they don’t speak for (or to) the majority of gay men and lesbians. And yet – on and on with the protest march. Life has so many better options to fill your life with, and to support than these folks. And I have read his books. Light and airy with little past ‘look at me’ and marvel at my special foo-foo. Tiresome – much like the scared fem these believe is opening the – next protest march. Life is richer and better without this wind-bag party.
Comment by Dan W on November 3, 2022 at 11:16 am
Jeffrey Walton, thanks for the very well written article.
Robinson takes a victory lap around the smoking ruins of a once spirit-filled church. The last paragraph, with the quote from Rector Salmon, he shouldn’t blame The Holy Spirit for the mess they’ve created at TFCE. And much praise for the success of Falls Church Anglican!
Comment by Steve on November 3, 2022 at 5:46 pm
Robinson’s version of Ezekiel isn’t credible.
“Sodom’s sin was not only selfishness, but also homosexuality. This is evident from several facts. First of all, the context of Genesis 19 reveals that their perversion was sexual (see comments on Gen. 19:8).
Second, the sin of selfishness related by Ezekiel (16:49) does not exclude the sin of homosexuality. As a matter of fact, sexual sins are a form of selfishness, since they are the satisfaction of fleshly passions.
Third, by calling their sin an “abomination,” the very next verse (v. 50, nkjv) indicates that it was sexual. This is the same word used to describe homosexual sins in Leviticus 18:22.
Fourth, the notorious nature of Sodom’s sexual perversity is revealed in the very word “sodomy” which has come to mean homosexual activity.
Fifth, the sin of Sodom is referred to elsewhere in Scripture as a sexual perversion. Jude even calls their sin “sexual immorality” (v. 7).”
https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Ezekiel_16.49.php
Comment by David on November 4, 2022 at 7:56 am
The Oklahoma musical has a number, “The farmer and the cowman should be friends.” The Bible refers to the conflict between settled farmers and nomadic herders. This first appears in the Cain (farmer) and Able (herder) story. Cities or settled populations are often portrayed as evil and this reflects even current urban/rural divides.
The Levite’s concubine story (Judges 19-21) is almost verbatim of the Sodom story in parts. Whether this was written before or after the Genesis story remains a question.
I always wondered about the women of Sodom—the place was unlikely to be an all-male settlement. Some of these may have been pregnant. We should note the fate of evil fetuses.
Comment by Stephanie Jenkins on November 6, 2022 at 9:39 pm
I believe that God is love and if love exists between 2 people of the same sex, that God must be involved. But becoming the poster child for becoming a gay Bishop seems like a bridge too far. Could Robinson have decided he didn’t want his relationship to be the catalyst for the controversay that divided the Episcopal church? Could he have chosen to not test his relationship on the Episcopal Church? I don’t think think this is a black and white issue. Sometimes, you can be morally right, and totally wrong for the situation. The fact that his ” marriage” didn’t pan out and he sacrificed the church for it, seems like poor judgment.
Comment by Henry Stokes on November 7, 2022 at 6:44 am
There you go, flaming division in Christianity over a moral issue that Jesus did not raise in his sermons and teachings. This fight diverts the work of the Church today much like the the argument over circumcision two millenniums ago. Love of neighbor, tolerance, and forgiveness are the values I read in the Gospel.
Comment by Jeff on November 7, 2022 at 10:41 am
>>> Hey There Episcopalians! <<<
Romans 1:18-32 was Paul's WARNING AGAINST descending into godless pagan heresy and paying the eternal price therefor.
Paul was NOT!!! drawing you a roadmap for how to chart a denominational course straight into the depths of hell.
I can't see how y'all could get that so confused, but apparently you did. Thought I'd try to help! You're welcome.
Blessings
Jeff
Comment by Douglas E Ehrhardt on November 7, 2022 at 12:08 pm
Henry, check out Matthew 19: 4-6. How can anyone who is biblically literate believe sodomy is about tolerance?
Comment by Colin ross on November 9, 2022 at 1:55 pm
Lol as a former Christian out of the episcopal tradition I always find this entertaining. Budget shortfalls?! Why does anyone give these people money?
I think it’s funny that pretty much all their kids decided they had better things to do. The church doesn’t seem to realize no one care what the old rich white boomers have to say about leading social justice movements.
Comment by Star Tripper on November 12, 2022 at 7:41 pm
Lots of modern claptrap in the comments. The same stuff that has led to the crash of the Episcopal Church and the current dissolving of the UMC. Did Christ speak of homosexuality? No, it wasn’t really an issue in the Judean population. God is Love as the basis for your faith is not even sufficient to support a third grade Bible class. Since the standards of millennia are rejected, what do you put in their place? Your feelings? Group consensus? You will go the way of the Shakers and not even leave a heritage of fine furniture.
Comment by Colin Ross on November 13, 2022 at 7:39 am
Star tipper there are millions of better ways than Christianity. What does the episcopal church do? A bunch of boomers arguing over gay marriage still. Mostly the national church is a property holdings company that’s not afraid to sue its own churches. It was founded so king Henry the VIII could have a new wife. This is why everyone under 70 left.
Comment by Steve on November 13, 2022 at 5:32 pm
The readings of the Bible I’ve heard said the Romans killed Jesus at the insistence of corrupt and hypocritical scribes and pharisees who incited the mob. Pontius Pilate spent much time insisting that he did not want to kill Jesus, washing his hands to commemorate that he saw no reason to crucify and would not be responsible. Maybe Robinson is deflecting the obvious analogy: might he be a modern day version of these scribes and pharisees? It’s nice that the modern version hasn’t literally crucified traditionalists, but taking property and throwing people out could be seen as the kinder, gentler modern version.
Comment by Steve on November 16, 2022 at 7:48 am
Thought I’d share this, a hopefully amusing Toon commemorating what woke churches (think Episcopalian) have been like for the past decade or two:
the woke christian inquisition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq5uY4XjHhE
Also, what’s going on with TEC’s statistics? It’s almost Thanksgiving already.
TEC’S 2021 STATISTICS MISSING IN ACTION
https://virtueonline.org/tecs-2021-statistics-missing-action
Comment by Gary Melton on November 29, 2022 at 11:33 pm
The Bible clearly states the qualifications for elders in the New Testament Church. He doesn’t qualify for baptismor communion. It sounds as if his theology comes straight out of an Ivy League institution. The reason you can’t have members of the church in open sin is because they might get involved in leadership. Anyone is welcome at most churches, but to be a member, one must declare Jesus as Savior and Lord, ask forgiveness from their sins, and turn away from those sins. Sinful leadership leads others to sin and most likely straight to the lake of fire. Let’s all pray for this man. May he one day encounter the one true living God of the Bible! We’re all sinners. Jesus saves us from those sins. Thank you Jesus!