Jonsgirl -
It is a big deal because just recently - July 23rd to be exact, the American Anglican Council (a group that consists of many of the most conservative elements of the Anglican communion) met in Virginia to pre-emptively discuss their strategies for opposing the vote to confirm Bishop Robinson, not to mention their planned action should he be confirmed. This is a large, and in some cases very key faction in the Anglican community that publicly, to the press, in writing declared their intention to oppose this confirmation. Already we have seen the reactions of the Anglican leaders in other countries/continents. I don't know how to make a link, but this is the address for this statement of the AAC:
http://www.aplacetostand.org/dspnews.cfm?id=5
their main site is
http://www.americananglican.org
Myself, I have mixed feelings about these developments. I was raised Episcopal, and nothing has made me more proud of that than them being the first mainline faith to confirm a nomination for an openly gay bishop. I see this as a move towards the future, not to mention being consistent with the core of their own teachings. What saddens me is the vitriolic nature of the reactions of those who opposed this move. I truly didn't expect to see a church group bring up accusations that, in retrospect, seem like a smear campaign to stop a vote that looked likely to go through. I only hope that Robinson will not be pressured to step down as Jeffries (an Englishman in the same position) was, and that the Episcopal church practices a little unilateralism and stays with what they have decided is the right decision, despite international pressure.
*edit* I guess I did know how to make a link
