Chautauqua Institution's Vice President of Religion and Senior Pastor Gene Robinson Is Retiring

from Chautauqua Institution

Chautauqua Institution has announced the retirement of the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson as Vice President of Religion and Senior Pastor, effective Dec. 31.

Robinson joined the Institution staff in 2017, following a career in Episcopal Church leadership that culminated with service as bishop of the Diocese of New Hampshire. Robinson is an outspoken advocate for the rights of marginalized populations, recognized for his groundbreaking work with the LGBTQ community, youth communities and those suffering from abuse and addiction.

Prior to Chautauqua, Robinson was elected Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire on June 7, 2003, becoming the first openly gay and partnered priest to be elected Bishop in historic Christendom. He served as IX Bishop of New Hampshire until his retirement in early 2013. His ministry has focused on helping congregations and clergy, especially in times of conflict, utilizing his skills in congregational dynamics, conflict resolution and mediation. He is the author of In the Eye of the Storm: Swept to the Center by God (Morehouse, 2006) and God Believes in Love: Straight Talk about Gay Marriage (Knopf, 2012). In addition to being a popular speaker in the U.S. and abroad, he has written opinion columns on a variety of topics for The Daily Beast, Huffington Post and Time.com.

In 2009, Barack Obama invited Robinson to pray the invocation at the opening Inaugural Ceremonies and Concert at the Lincoln Memorial. In 2018, he had the honor of presiding over the interment of Matthew Shepard at the Washington National Cathedral.