c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) The Episcopal Church sidestepped a potential crisis Saturday (May 6) when a married father of two was elected bishop of San Francisco over three openly gay contenders.

The Rt. Rev. Mark Handley Andrus, 49, the suffragan (assistant) bishop of Birmingham, Ala., won a seven-person race to replace Bishop William Swing of the Diocese of California.

The three gay candidates _ the Rev. Michael Barlowe of San Francisco, the Rev. Bonnie Perry of Chicago and the Very Rev. Robert V. Taylor of Seattle _ all trailed in the final voting after Andrus was elected on the third ballot.

Had any of the three gay candidates won, conservatives warned it would have likely led to permanent schism in the 2.3 million-member Episcopal Church and with sister churches in the worldwide Anglican Communion.

The U.S. church has been deeply divided over the inclusion of gays and lesbians in front of and behind church pulpits since 2003, when an openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson, was elected in New Hampshire.

The church’s top leader, Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, had warned that “definite difficulty” would occur if San Francisco elected the church’s second openly gay bishop. In April, a special church panel warned dioceses to proceed with “very considerable caution” when considering gay bishops.

Conservatives, who were grateful that the three gay candidates were defeated, nonetheless chastized the diocese for presenting them for election, and said the church has not fought its last battle over a gay bishop.

“Moving slowly with caution is not stopping, and (the church) is practicing a theology contrary to Scripture, Anglican doctrine and 2,000 years of Christian teaching,” the American Anglican Council said in a statement.

Earlier, the Rev. Paul Zahl, dean of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, Pa., likened the election of another gay bishop to “a terrorist bomb, which is timed to destroy a peace process.” His statements prompted calls for an apology from the Human Rights Campaign, a secular gay rights group.

Harry Knox, the religion and faith director for the Washington-based group, called the remarks “one of the most outrageous comments made by a radical conservative fringe in the church.”

Speaking by phone to diocesan delegates at Grace Cathedral after the vote, Andrus promised to maintain the church’s support for gay rights _ a position that has not been popular during his ministry in Alabama.

“Your vote today remains a vote for inclusion and communion _ of gay and lesbian people in their full lives as single or partnered people,” Andrus said. “My commitment to Jesus Christ’s own mission of inclusion is resolute.”

Gay Episcopal groups said they were not disappointed that the three gay candidates lost the election because Andrus supported Robinson’s election and is viewed by many gay groups as an ally.

“Bishop Andrus is a person of vision who has led our diocese in confronting poverty and racism,” said Brad LaMonte of Alabama, a local leader in Integrity, a national network of gay Episcopalians. “He has given a voice to the voiceless. He is a great champion for human rights, including equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.”

Andrus’ election will need to be ratified by the church’s General Convention meeting in Columbus, Ohio, next month.

Many church observers think an openly gay bishop could be elected in Newark, N.J., this fall since the diocese has long been one of the most liberal in the country, and is strongly associated with the gay rights cause.

KRE/PH END LEVY