 The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson preached and our Bishop, the Rt. Rev. William Swing, presided as we celebrate our tenth anniversary of serving LGBT people of this Diocese in a moving service at Grace Cathedral.
In his sermon Bishop Robinson predicted it is only a matter of time before lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people are fully incorporated into the life and ministry of the Episcopal Church.
“When the dust finally settles, lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people will be fully included at every level of our church,” the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church said. “We know what the end looks like and our enemies do too,” he added. “What we are really arguing about is timing, not the final outcome. I may not live to see it, you may not live to see it, but this church of ours will see the day when all of God’s children are equal.”
Bishop Robinson came to the Bay Area to assist California Bishop William Swing celebrate ten years of ministry by Oasis - the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of California. Oasis honored Bishop Swing for his ministry with the LGBT community.
 “Bishop Swing took up the mantle of being bishop at ground zero of the HIV epidemic, and taught the rest of the church how to respond with compassion,” Oasis President the Rev. John Kirkley said. “And he has ordained more gay and lesbian clergy during his 27 years of episcopacy than probably any other bishop in history. That may be his most enduring legacy to the church.”
Take a look at more of the photos from our 10th Anniversary Reception. Bishop Robison’s visit to San Francisco came on the eve of his historic visit next week to London and Oxford. Bishop of London Richard Chartres has refused to bow to lobbying from evangelicals who asked him to disinvite Bishop Robinson from visiting London or attending a church service there. Evangelicals also failed in a plea to the Archbishop of Canterbury that Bishop Robinson not be permitted to set foot in the capital or attend a scheduled service for gay and lesbian Christians at St Martin-in-the Fields church in Trafalgar Square.
Bishop Robinson’s consecration is cited by some as the cause for continuing conflict within the Anglican Communion, Kirkley said. During this debate, some critics have vilified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Oasis has called for repentance by the Church for its ambivalence regarding the human dignity and sacramental equality of all God’s children You can read our recent media release announcing the celebration and our news release on this celebration. | 
