...While some conservative bishops had left the meeting early to hold their own meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there was some favorable comment from both sides.Astonishing that these two bishops seem to agree.
"We have been a bit clearer about what we have done," said Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, a gay whose consecration touched off the controversy. "I think we have offered assurances to the (global communion) who by the way have been, I believe, destabilized by misinformation coming their way."
Conservative Bishop Bruce MacPherson of western Louisiana, who voted against Robinson as bishop but opposes splitting the church, said progress was made.
"I would like to have seen a little greater clarity, but I think this was OK," MacPherson said...
The article goes on to describe how at least one reporter understands the statement:
...The New Orleans statement added that the bishops acknowledge "that non-celibate gay and lesbian persons are included among those to whom" the restraint message applies. But there was no outright pledge to ban another consecration should a gay person be elected bishop...J.
...On the issue of blessing same-sex unions the bishops said they "pledge not to authorize for use in our dioceses any public rites of blessing of same-sex unions until a broader consensus emerges in the Communion ..."
They went on to say that such blessings are not happening in a widespread way and that the majority of bishops oppose them. But they did not pledge to ban them, citing the communion's own call for a "breadth" of response in personal ministry...
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