Concord, N.H., Jun 10, 2008 / 18:24 pm
Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual Episcopal bishop whose appointment drove a deep rift within the worldwide Anglican Communion, on Saturday entered into a civil union at a private ceremony at St. Paul’s Church in New Hampshire.
Before about 120 guests at the church, Robinson, a 61-year-old divorced father of two, entered a union with Mark Andrew, his partner of more than 19 years, Reuters reports.
Robinson’s spokesman, Mike Barwell, said the event was kept private out of respect for next month’s worldwide Anglican conference.
The 77 million-member Anglican Communion, which is a worldwide federation of national churches, has suffered internal conflict since Robinson was consecrated bishop in 2003 by the Episcopal Church, the U.S. branch of the Anglican Communion.