A recent article by the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson in The Daily Beast addresses the story of a gay couple in Florida who was denied the opportunity to baptize their infant son in the Cathedral of St. Luke in Orlando, Florida. The church is a part of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida, long considered to be one of the more conservative arms of the Episcopal Church in the country. Unlike many other parts of the church, the Central Florida diocese has been slow to allow gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members to have full access to the sacraments. While other parts of the church have opened up to and embraced LGBT Christians who wish to worship in the Episcopal faith, and even be ordained therein, Central Florida has held out. Although the two gay men eventually received permission to baptize their son, Robinson says there is a deeper lesson here for clergy and flock alike.
Baptism Is Granted
To help illustrate his point, Robinson tells the biblical story from Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 8, in which the Apostle Philip meets an Ethiopian eunuch on the road. After the two have engaged in some philosophical and religious discussion about the teachings of Isaiah, the eunuch says, "Here is water. Why should I not be baptized?" Philip responds by baptizing him on the spot. Robinson comments that, according to scripture, while no one deserves baptism, per se, baptism is granted to those who profess to sincerely serve God. He concentrates on the inclusive tendencies of Christ and his disciples, rather than on the exclusive biblical passages that would condemn certain people. Robinson makes the point that if all who committed an act prohibited by the bible were excluded from membership in the church, church would be pretty empty. Typical infractions include:
- Adultery
- Divorce and remarriage
- Failure to tithe
Whose Lesson Is It?
Before the Rt. Rev. Greg Brewer, the Bishop of Central Florida, granted permission to have little Jack baptized, he met with the couple to ask why they sought the baptism. Evidently their answer was satisfactory, because Bishop Brewer OK'd a date for sometime this summer. Robinson suggests that perhaps the bishop should have questioned some of the other parishioners on their objections to their fellow church members. He also questions why it is that this couple must be questioned about their intentions, while other parents are not. It is apparently not common practice for the bishop to meet with parents. The implication is that the gay couple is being singled out. He cites Matthew 5:10: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The Big Picture
The Reverend expresses concern that episodes such as the one in Central Florida serve to push people further away from organized Christianity. He speculates that many people already feel that churches are intolerant and hypocritical, and events such as this one only underscore those beliefs. Robinson maintains that, despite the resolution, the problem of exclusion persists. On the other hand, the bishop expressed an interest in attending Jack's baptism. This gesture would be an unprecedented step for the Central Florida Diocese toward inclusion and openness to all believers. Although some would argue that one needs to raise one's voice to be heard, the quiet patience of the couple speaks volumes. While there may still be plenty of resistance to their inclusion in the sacraments, they stayed the course and got what they needed for their son. Their priority seems to be on having their son receive the sacrament of baptism, rather than changing the minds of their fellow parishioners. In their persistence, it appears that they offer a powerful lesson about both faith and parenting through example.
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