Robinson, a 57-year old bishop who caused huge controversy last year at the time of his new position being affirmed, gave his first interviewed to a British paper since the report was published last week.
The Lambeth commission was criticised by Robinson, who argued that the Commission refused to allow him to contribute to the report and said that homosexual representations were not put forward in the report.
Since last November, when the consecration of Bishop Robinson took place in New Hampshire, USA, the Anglican Church has worked hard to try to stop a schism of the communion, as conservatives and liberals have consistently clashed on the issue.
Robinson told the UK-based ‘The Telegraph’, “Not only was I not called in front of the commission, but my requests to appear were also denied, as were those of other diocesan representatives. There wouldn't have been a commission without my ordination."
The Windsor Report, which was produced by the Lambeth Commission, a body of seventeen leading Anglicans established by Dr. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to advise the communion on the sensitive issue and to investigate the legal and theological implications that had been raised by Bishop Robinson’s ordination. The report was also asked to advise on the performing of same-sex blessings by the Canadian diocese of New Westminster. The report is the result a full year’s work by the Commission, and was released last Monday 18th October 2004.
The report scolded the 53 bishops that supported the openly homosexual bishop’s consecration, and suggested that they should resign from their posts within the Church body. The Episcopal Church, based in the US, was also requested to “express its regret” for the furore caused.
Robinson, who now lives with his male partner, has got two children from his previous broken marriage, admitted that the past few months had been “draining”, but that he felt positive about the report.
He said, “I do not want to see the American Church go its own way. I am committed to our full participation in life within the Anglican Communion. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Archbishop of Canterbury. I am very interested to see what he does with this report, but I have full confidence in him."
The spokesperson for the Lambeth Commission, Rev Brian Parker responded to Robinson’s comments and said, “The commission's work was not about homosexuality. As for Gene Robinson, it was not about his episcopate, rather his lifestyle and there was little more to be said on that, so he was not invited to attend. He was invited to submit written evidence.”