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"Does that sound familiar?" Theuner said.

He also cited an argument in which one Christian attached a Bible to a weapon to justify violence.

"The argument was about control, about power, about who is in and who is out, about who is right and who is wrong," Theuner said.

Theuner categorically rejected arguments that Robinson's consecration would harm Anglican unity.

"Because of who you are, Gene, you can stand for the unity of the church in a way that none of us can," Theuner said, as the congregation applauded vigorously. "Because of your presence, the episcopate will be more a symbol of unity than it ever has been."

And Theuner challenged both the Archbishop of Canterbury and Presiding Bishop Griswold to help persuade Third World Anglicans to agree with the Episcopal Church's choices.

"Canterbury and New York may have to move to the margins if they are to help Nigeria or the West Indies," Theuner said.

For his part, Robinson struck a kinder tone just after he was consecrated and vested as the 993rd bishop of the Episcopal Church.

"It's not about me," Robinson said. "It's about so many other people who find themselves at the margins. Your presence here is a sign of welcome."

As he did when elected in June, Robinson reminded the congregation that many faithful Christians would feel pain about his consecration.

"We must do everything we can to remain the brothers and sisters in Christ that we must be and God wants us to be," Robinson said. "The eyes of the world are on us. Let's use every inch of it. We couldn't buy this kind of listening. Let's use it for God."

To what extent that's still possible for the Anglican Communion should become increasingly clear in the weeks ahead.

Douglas LeBlanc is an associate editor of Christianity Today

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

See also today's Weblog;for international reaction to the consecration.

Christianity Today's other recent articles on the Anglican crisis include:

Weblog: With Gay Bishop Consecration Days Away, D.C. Bishop Vows Same-Sex Blessing Rite | Plus: Anglican panel named (Oct. 29, 2003)

Weblog: Are Anglicans Getting a Pope? | London Times reports plans to give Archbishop of Canterbury much more authority (Oct. 24, 2003)

Translating the Anglican Primates | Interpretations vary widely on what last week's statement means, how forceful it was, and what's next. (Oct. 21, 2003)

One-and-One-Half Cheers for the Anglican Primates' Statement | An interview with theologian—and longtime Anglican—J.I. Packer (Oct. 17, 2003)

Dispatch: Conservatives Just Got Clobbered | Last week's American Anglican Council meeting in Texas announced victory prematurely. By Douglas LeBlanc (Oct. 17, 2003)

Anglican Leaders Criticize Episcopal Church, Canada's New Westminster Diocese on Homosexual Actions | Future of the Anglican unity "in jeopardy," they say, but don't break communion—yet (Oct. 16, 2003)

Anglicanism's Communion of Saints | Under the somber portraits of their predecessors, Anglican archbishops will discuss the fractious issues of the church and homosexuality (Oct. 15, 2003)

Weblog: Where Else to Go for News and Analysis of the Anglican Primates' Meeting | The best (and worst) articles and sites monitoring the breakup of the world's third-largest Christian body (Oct. 15, 2003)

Florida Bishop Defies Episcopal Church Head | The consecration of a new bishop becomes the latest battleground between Frank Griswold and the American Anglican Council (Oct. 10, 2003)

Reimagining Anglican Bonds of Affection | Orthodox American leaders begin describing what realignment of the Anglican Communion might look like (Oct. 9, 2003)

Conservative Episcopalians Challenge Church Politics as Usual | "A Place to Stand" conference combines unofficial convention, pep rally, and communiqué to Anglican leaders (Oct. 8, 2003)

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November (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47