A special convention on Sept. 20 in the Diocese of Albany voted by overwhelming margins to disassociate itself from recent General Convention decisions to condone same-sex blessings and grant consent to the consecration of a sexually active homosexual person as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire.

The call to the convention identified several purposes, including providing “mission opportunities for individual and parish contributions as an alternative to the General Convention budget,” and disavowing resolutions of General Convention consenting to the consecration of the Rev. Canon V. Gene Robinson as Bishop Coadjutor of New Hampshire, and affirming the blessing of committed same-gender relationships.

Prior to the special convention, a group of clergy and laity calling themselves “Albany Via Media” circulated an open letter expressing opposition to the “precipitous actions being proposed.” The letter stated that the signers disagreed on the propriety of the New Hampshire election and on the issue of liturgies for same-sex unions. However, the signers were united in opposition to any reduction of the diocesan contribution to the program budget of General Convention.