ST. LOUIS, MO — The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church and current fellow at the Center for American Progress will be in St. Louis Saturday September 27-28 to teach, preach and lead conversations on the current state of marriage equality in America and LGBT inclusion in the church.
There are three opportunities to hear Bishop Robinson — all are free and open to the public.
Saturday Morning, Sept. 27 – “Coming Out … Coming In.” — (10 am – 1 pm, St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 15674 Clayton Road, Ellisville, MO) We talk about getting people through the doors of the church, but we rarely talk about what we leave outside the church when we come in. Gene Robinson will cover his faith journey, the changes in the church in the last decade and the challenges of inclusiveness in the church today. What did he leave at the door, and what do we ask our congregations to leave outside on Sunday morning? Bishop Robinson’s talk will be followed by small groups discussing these questions, trying to find answers for individual communities. Click here for more information and links for registration and child care.
Saturday, Evening, Sept. 27 – “Faith & Marriage Equality” — (6:30 – 8:30 pm, Christ Church Cathedral, 13th Street between Olive and Locust, Downtown St. Louis) – Bishop Robinson will discuss the past, present and future of marriage equality and LGBT rights with a specific emphasis on the scriptural and theological foundations of marriage equality. The evening will also feature representatives from area LGBT advocacy organizations and an opportunity for people of faith to network for education and advocacy for marriage equality in Missouri, and a chance for clergy to stand up and pledge to officiate at LGBT marriages once they are legal in our state. Free and open to the public. RSVP registration available by clicking here. Click here to download a pdf poster of this event.
Sunday Morning, Sept. 28 – (9 & 10 am, Christ Church Cathedral, 13th Street between Olive and Locust, Downtown St. Louis). Bishop Robinson will be speaking at the adult forum in the Cathedral Nave at 9 am and preaching at the 10 am Choral Eucharist.
Bishop Robinson was elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire in 2003 and retired in 2013. He is currently a senior fellow at the Center for American Prograess. The author of God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage, and In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God, Robinson is one of the nation’s leading advocates for LGBT rights and marriage equality.
“As more and more states realize that marriage equality is not only a constitutional necessity but a moral imperative, we are thrilled to bring to Missouri as articulate an advocate for equal rights for all God’s children as the church has known in recent years,” said Dean Mike Kinman of Christ Church Cathedral.
“This is a chance for supporters of LGBT rights and marriage equality and also those who are challenged by that idea to come together and hear a passionate, theological grounding of equal rights for all God’s children.”
