From The London Guardian-
The rift in the Anglican communion over homosexuality was reopened today after its first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, said he was retiring early because seven years of controversy had "taken their toll" on him, his family and followers.
Robinson's consecration in the diocese of New Hampshire in 2003 had brought conservatives and liberals in the Anglican communion to the brink of schism.
As the first non-celibate gay clergyman in the Anglican communion to become a bishop, his appointment exposed irreconcilable theological divisions between liberals and conservatives that reverberate to this day.
Last year, North American traditionalists broke away from the US Episcopal church to set up their own network. This year, Episcopalians consecrated a non-celibate lesbian to the post of assistant bishop in Los Angeles.
Robinson told the New Hampshire gathering that "the constant strain" was too much to bear.
He said: "Death threats, and the now-worldwide controversy surrounding your election of me as bishop, have been a constant strain, not just on me, but on my beloved husband, Mark, who has faithfully stood with me every minute of the last seven years, and in some ways, you.
More here-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/07/gene-robinson-anglican-us-episcopal
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