Moderate Bishop Takes Unexpected Turn

That the ruddy-faced, deep-voiced Lee might go down in history as an ally of liberals, in opposition to the more traditional evangelical Episcopalians, is odd.

Shortly after he was elected to lead the Virginia Diocese, he told the Richmond Times-Dispatch that evangelization was his top priority. And over the years, as tensions built over the correct Scriptural view of homosexuality, and conservative congregations began to withdraw their financial support from the diocese and the national church, Lee continued to appoint conservatives to top positions.

He has refused to ordain non-celibate gay or lesbian priests and to authorize the blessing of same-sex unions. But over the past few decades, he said in a recent interview, he has thought hard about the nature of those unions.

"I've had more knowledge of mature, same-sex couples, and I don't see how they are a threat to traditional marriage," he said. "We live in a confusing time and people want certainty. But that level of certitude is something that I find alien to the breadth of our tradition."

In that vein, he voted in 2003 for the election of an openly gay New Hampshire bishop. In the months that followed, some churches told him he was not welcome to visit. Parents asked him not to lay hands on their children at confirmation. He received death threats.

He gave a sermon in 2005, however, saying he regretted the vote, calling it a "unilateral" move at a tender time. Last year, he served on a committee at the denomination's general convention urging caution on electing any more openly gay or lesbian bishops.

"People like me who tend to be solidly on the left wing on gay issues have not seen him on our side," said Jim Naughton, spokesman for the Diocese of Washington.

Soon, history will have its say about Lee's tenure, during which the diocese grew from 80,000 to 90,000 members. Last month, a Mississippi priest was elected to replace Lee, who has until 2010 to step down.

"Sometimes, when I've had a good night's sleep, I begin to look at this as God's gift to Ph.D. students in 50 years," he said. "I think we'll end this in 10 or 20 or 30 years with a renewed sense of inclusiveness. And we'll wonder what this was all about."