Episcopal election to set tone for church
CHOICES FOR BISHOP INCLUDE GAY, LESBIAN
By Kim Vo
Mercury News

A Bay Area election to choose a new Episcopal bishop is at the center of the national struggle over faith and homosexuality, now that a gay man and a lesbian are among the finalists for the job.

If either is tapped to head the Episcopal Diocese of California, it could have a powerful impact throughout the worldwide Anglican Communion, where emotions are still tender after the 2003 election of Gene Robinson as the first openly gay Episcopal bishop.

``It's being carefully watched by those in places of leadership,'' said the Rev. Susan Russell, president of Integrity, a New York-based advocacy group for gay Episcopalians. ``It will dramatically affect where we go as a church.''

Members of the diocese, which stretches from Marin County to Los Altos, only meant to find the right spiritual leader, not provoke a political debate, said the Rev. Jack Eastwood, spokesman for the diocese. While seeking a bishop to lead the diocese's 27,000 diverse congregants, the search committee picked candidates who resembled the region itself: five men and women from around the country, white and black, gay and straight. the rest