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Blogged by James Preece on 19th August 2009
This is actively homosexual Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson and his boyfriend:
In a couple of weeks time (28th - 31st of August) the Greenbelt festival will be taking place at Cheltenham Racecourse. Greenbelt is primarily a Christian music festival though there are also speakers and workshops and so forth. This year Bishop Gene Robinson will be one of the speakers which has caused a bit of controversy in the protestant world with some evangelical groups calling for a boycott of the event.
Anglican Mainstream believes that young people could be led astray by Bishop Gene Robinson and other gay rights campaigners at the Cheltenham-based festival. It has also questioned the involvement of the Church Mission Society in the event, which attracts 20,000 people each year.
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Commenting on the article, the Rev Canon Dr Chris Sugden said: "If nothing is done to bring into the marketplace of Greenbelt a biblically faithful point of view, publicly, that is available for people, then I think leaders of youth clubs and families should think very seriously about whether they want their young people to be in this environment; an environment where it is accepted that this [practising homosexuality] is a valid, completely acceptable expression of the Christian point of view."
He said that the gay agenda was already pushed enough at schools and in the media and that there was no need for a Christian festival to be promoting it. He added that Gene Robinson was "clearly seeking to influence a lot of people."
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Greenbelt, which has the Archbishop of Canterbury as its patron, has been provocative on numerous occasions since it began in1974. In previous years it featured the bikini-clad dancers of the Sheffield Nine O'Clock Service (before it ended scandalously in 1995). Another year a white witch was invited to speak at the festival. Greenbelt is refusing to comment on the criticisms.
[link]
Gay Bishops? Witches? Just the sort of event you might expect to see promoted by CAFOD and the Diocese of Middlesbrough.
Reader Comments
Mark Dobson said...
As you happen to mention it...
We went to St. Thomas', Crookes when I was younger, the church of the the infamous "Nine O'Clock Service". I have no memory of the scandal at all though. I think I only heard about it years afterwards.
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Mark Dobson said...
Plus, I just remembered that I know someone who'll be giving a talk on "intersex and the church".
I mean, it's already a Christian music festival; it's not like they have to add any more reasons for me to stay away...
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kate said...
Cafod- yes, sadly it doesn't surprise me; Cafod lost the plot some time ago.
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Edel said...
I would love to say I can't believe it! Instead I'm going to say I can believe it but I am sad that I can believe it. Crazy!
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joy said...
hello,
sometimes i read this blog- haven't done so in a while- but wanted to comment.
i went to the greenbelt festival last summer- I've been 5 times in total and if you haven't been before i recommend going- you may be challenged by a lot but you probably will also be enthused and inspired by a lot aswell.
I was at one talk by gene robinson. i interpret greenbelts intention of getting him to do a couple of the many talks that can be heard at greenbelt - was to, in the embrace of the Christian faith, listen to what he is saying before putting up barriers. i didnt agree with most of what he said- but i listened and it made me want to think more - and i'm glad i listened to him.
his final comment in his talk - for me was the most poignant- he believed that in discussing sexuality in the light of God- people on all sides of the debate must come to the table to discuss and discern - and a big sin would be to walk away from the table now.(paraphrased that a lot)
I'm not a very good writer so hope you can get what i'm trying to describe. you can probably get the talks from the greenbelt shop - if you wanted to listen.
i recommend going to one of the festivals - mass is also celebrated at the festival. I've been to many flavours of catholic and christian conferences from very orthodox to pretty out there.
greenbelt is not as narrow as a 'Christian music festival' though
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