Local Episcopal dioceses hit over election of gay N.H. bishop

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Virginia's Episcopal bishops have received a few hundred letters and e-mails criticizing a decision to allow an openly homosexual man to become the leader of the church's New Hampshire Diocese.

The office of Bishop Peter James Lee, leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, has received about 200 letters and e-mails in response to the Rev. V. Gene Robinson's confirmation as New Hampshire's bishop.

"Some of them have been pointed at Bishop Lee," said Nancy Jenkins, director of communications for the diocese. "Some of them have called for his resignation. Some have said he will go to hell."

Bishop Lee's diocese, one of three in Virginia, comprises the upper third of the commonwealth and has 86,500 baptized members.

Ms. Jenkins said the correspondence mostly speak negatively about the election. Last week in Minneapolis, Bishop Lee voted to allow Mr. Robinson to become bishop of New Hampshire when the Episcopal General Convention confirmed him 62 to 45, with two abstentions.

"In casting his vote, he said he voted that way in order to respect the choices of the people of New Hampshire," Ms. Jenkins said.

The bishop has said the vote does not mean he agrees with those in New Hampshire on issues of sexual orientation.

Conservative Episcopalians have threatened to halt donations to the Episcopal Church and to break away and form a separate church.

Bishop Lee is trying to respond to each of the letters, has posted pastoral letters on the diocese's Web site, and will hold public information sessions, Ms. Jenkins said.