Until about six months ago, the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson was optimistic that the Anglican Communion would hold together following General Convention decisions in 2003 to give consent to his consecration as Bishop coadjutor of New Hampshire and to recognize that same-sex blessings were happening in various places throughout the Episcopal Church.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Bishop Robinson said his hopes for an amicable resolution to the crisis within the Episcopal Church faded after the July 18-21 meeting of 19 bishops in Los Angeles.

According to Bishop Robinson, conservative bishops at the informal meeting, hosted by the Rt. Rev J. Jon Bruno of Los Angeles were not interested in reconciliation. “I said ‘I’m here to talk about how we can live together’.” But several conservative bishops disagreed, saying they were not interested in reconciliation but wanted “to divvy up the property from this divorce’.”

Bishop Robinson is the first of the 19 bishops in attendance to deviate publicly from the three paragraph statement released at the conclusion of that meeting. Michael Barwell, Bishop Robinson’s press officer, confirmed the accuracy of the AP story to The Living Church.

Recent actions by the Primate of Nigeria, the Most Rev. Peter Akinola, and other global south church leaders led Bishop Robinson to believe a split may be imminent with the Communion. Bishop Robinson said he wanted to reconcile with his detractors, but not at the cost of stepping down as Bishop of New Hampshire.

“This is at least as much about power and control as it is about theology and Scripture,” Bishop Robinson told The Associated Press. “It’s about who’s going to be calling the shots, and who’s going to be in and who’s going to be out.”

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