By some bizarre coincidence, the retirement and/or resigning of bishops has made a great splash in the news. On this side of the pond, Bishop Gene Robinson, whose election and consecration caused so much consternation throughout the Anglican Communion, announced his retirement. His address to the Diocese of New Hampshire is here. The New York Times article is here.

Meanwhile, a number of bishops of the Church of England have announced their resignation. Unable to come to terms with the ordination of women to the Episcopate, they are swimming the Tiber and becoming Roman Catholic. You can follow the discussion at Thinking Anglicans.

Someone more theologically or spiritually astute than me might be able to draw some conclusion from this interesting convergence, but any connection escapes me now.

Perhaps it is only this. Bishop Robinson writes about the toll that the last seven years have taken on him and his partner. No doubt those bishops who are resigning in the Church of England can also say something about the emotional, physical, and spiritual toll that has affected them since the decision to ordain women to the priesthood in the Church of England.

Being a bishop is no easy thing. Being a bishop when it seems the forces of church and culture are arrayed against you must be exceedingly difficult. These bishops may have very different theological perspectives, but no doubt all of them have suffered a great deal. And the Church is diminished by their leaving.

My prayers are with them all.