PITTSBURGH, June 30, 2012 – “It was not that long ago when our churches were absolutely certain of what God thought of us,” Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church. Robinson was the keynote speaker for the More Light Presbyterians National Celebration Dinner during the 220th General Assembly.
But now, suggested Robinson, it is not certainty, but confusion that is the order of the day.
“Confusion is a big step forward from certainty,” he continued. It is, he suggested, a “‘holy chaos.’”
“We in the Anglican Communion are in confusion, trying to figure out how deep and wide and broad the love of God actually is,” Robinson said. He urged those gathered to be the ones who “give the gift of confusion” to the Presbyterian Church.
The problem, as Robinson explained it, is one of vision.
“The vision that we are putting forward for God’s extravagant love for all of creation—it is just too good to be true,” said Robinson. “So it is an act of faith to say that I know it is true—and that I’m going to live my life as though it were true.” 
It is a vision that Robinson admitted is not always welcomed. But that is not a reason to abandon it.
“If you are not in trouble because of the gospel you preach, is it really the gospel?” he asked those gathered–who received the question with applause.
But he also exhorted them, in times of difficultly or discouragement to remember.
“We have been told for years that we can only come as far as the door, that we have this thing about us that makes us unworthy to come any closer,” said Robinson.
“But remember that we know how this is going to end—it is going to end with full inclusion,” concluded Robinson.
