The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle has become one of the first bishops of the Episcopal Church to say publicly that he will decline consent to the Rev. Canon Mary Douglas Glasspool’s election as a suffragan bishop.
 
Bishop Doyle made that commitment in a letter to the people of the Diocese of Texas diocese that soon appeared on Kendall Harmon’s weblog, TitusOneNine.
 
“We cannot isolate ourselves by listening only to the voices of any one province, or even the voices of any one diocese within our province,” the bishop wrote. “In the Diocese of Texas we are interested in our relationships locally and abroad, believing we are stronger when we listen to and partner with diverse cultures around the world.
 
“As bishop of the Diocese of Texas I will continue to honor the request of my brothers and sister bishops across our province and the Communion, and the leadership of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and will not consent to the Rev. Glasspool’s election.”
 
Carol Barnwell, communications officer of the diocese, confirmed the letter’s authenticity and said the bishop declined an opportunity to discuss it with The Living Church.
 
The bishop’s letter also emphasized the theological and social diversity of the diocese.
 
“We have many gay and lesbian members across the diocese and week after week they join with the rest of our Church as faithful communicants to worship and work on behalf of Jesus Christ,” he wrote. “We acknowledge the blessing of diverse opinions on scripture and sexuality, while as a whole the Diocese of Texas has continued and continues to offer a clear response to the wider Communion through a traditional teaching on marriage and ordination.”
 
He also joined Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Shcori in expressing opposition to proposed anti-homosexuality laws in Uganda.
 
“While I will not vote to consent to this election, I am unified with others throughout the Anglican Communion around the issues of safeguarding human rights everywhere,” he wrote. “We reject the pending Ugandan legislation that would introduce the death penalty for people who violate portions of that country’s anti-homosexuality laws.”
 
He is among the bishops who signed on to the Anaheim Statement after General Convention in July.
 
Bishop Doyle discussed his thoughts on sexuality, and his leadership of the diocese, in an August interview with Evan Smith of Texas Monthly magazine.
 
“I grew up in a diverse culture and have friends who are gay and lesbian,” he said. “The reality of our diocese is that we have gays and lesbians who go to our churches. They find their spiritual journeys entwined with our own in this place. So when I make the statement that things will not change, there is a great deal of pain. I am unwilling to pretend that pain is not there.”
 
Mr. Smith asked the bishop if he would lead differently on the issue if his diocese were less conservative.
 
“Your question misses the very deepest understanding of the vocation that I have as bishop,” the bishop responded. “I am the individual called forth by the community to guard and protect the faith and to hand the faith on as I have received it.”
 
“So your personal point of view doesn’t really matter,” Mr. Smith said.
 
“Exactly.”
 
Douglas LeBlanc
 
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