The diocese saw the hand-writing on the Global South wall and rejected the homoerotic priest.

Mark Beckwith has been Rector of All Saints Church, Worcester, Massachusetts, in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, since 1993. He also served as Associate Rector of St. Peter's, Morristown and Rector of Christ Church, Hackensack. While in the Diocese of Newark, hr was a co-founder of Morris Shelter, Inc. and a co-founder and first President of the Inter-Religious Fellowship of the Homeless in Bergen County. He has been married to Marilyn Olson since 1982.

Integrity, the Episcopal Church's national gay and lesbian organization immediately praised the election of Beckwith. "The Diocese of Newark has long been a champion for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Episcopalians," said the Rev. Susan Russell, President of Integrity. "Integrity looks forward to that legacy continuing under the leadership of Bishop-elect Beckwith."

"We believe that the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe's inclusion on that slate enriched not only this diocesan process but the whole church. Canon Barlowe is but one example of the qualified, faithful, and able LGBT clergy in the Episcopal Church. We are convinced it is inevitable that the Holy Spirit will move another diocese to call one of them to the episcopate."

Russell reiterated Integrity's opposition to Resolution to B033, which was passed by General Convention last June: "The canons of the Episcopal Church forbid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the discernment process for all orders of ministry. Whenever there is a conflict between the canons and General Convention resolutions, the canons must prevail. B033 is a simply not canonical. At least three diocesan conventions-Rochester, Olympia, and California-will soon be voting on resolutions recognizing that fact."

"Today the Holy Spirit has invited us all on a new journey to build on the extraordinary witness and work of the Diocese of Newark, trusting in the power of Christ and the strength of the Spirit to learn, to grow, to be faithful, to be hopeful," Beckwith told the convention via telephone.

When VOL called Beckwith and asked how he would handle orthodox parishes that might want to flee his leadership and the ultra-liberal diocese, he said, "I want first to build relationships, and then we will see how things go."

When asked about full inclusion in the body of Christ of all sexual orientations, he had this to say: "I think it is important to speak of the giftedness of the entire human family. The resistance to the inclusion of all sexual orientations, a resistance that is felt in parts of the country - and in entire Provinces of the Anglican Communion, and uniquely in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with the inauguration of same-gender marriage, has been made from the perspective of scarcity. The argument in opposition to GLBTI people is that they reflect some sort of flaw or sin. I believe that the Church needs to claim the voice of abundance - and that all of God's people are gifts, and their sexual orientation, class, ability and/or race reflects the giftedness of God. The Church needs to create and support liturgies and communities in which all of its members can claim their giftedness - and live into of the freedom given them in Christ."

The Rev. Elizabeth Kaeton, an openly gay priest at St. Paul's Church in Chatham, NJ told Associated Press that she felt Beckwith was the best choice to lead the diocese, but thought the global Anglican community's pressure on the American church to avoid more gay bishops was an "elephant in the room."

She thought it sad that "someone of the caliber of Michael Barlowe had such a poor showing."

Newark's choice will require the consent of a majority of the church's diocesan standing committees and bishops with jurisdiction. Those consents must be given within 120 days of the electing diocese's standing committee sending the certificate of election to the Presiding Bishop and the Standing Committees of all the dioceses. There are 126 days before the consecration date.

Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold has made it a practice not to comment on diocesan election processes.

But the election of a pro gay bishop will only fuel the current crisis in the Anglican Communion, not dampen it. The 2003 consecration of the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, clearly supported by Beckwith, only exacerbates the crisis. Beckwith's consecration will do nothing to lessen it.

Bishop-elect Beckwith will be consecrated on January 27, 2007, at a service to be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, after the required consents from the Standing Committees and bishops with jurisdiction throughout the United States have been received.

Beckwith will replace Bishop John Palmer Croneberger, who is resigning to spend more time with his ill wife, diocese spokeswoman Rev. Sandye Wilson said.

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