Some parishioners have expressed discontent with Robinson’s leadership following his consecration as New Hampshire’s first openly-gay Episcopal bishop last year.

A group of Episcopalians, including some at Church of the Redeemer, are seeking a new, more orthodox bishop to oversee church activities.

Monday’s meeting was held in the church’s fellowship room between Robinson and the church’s vestry, as well as members of the congregation. It was closed to the media and non-parishioners.

The two did not settle on a permanent solution to the parish’s opposition to Robinson’s leadership, but he did agree to provide them a list of more conservative bishops who could oversee activities requiring pastoral oversight, such as confirmation.

"I feel we’re on our way to repairing the rift," said Robinson at a press conference following the meeting. He described the session as "thoughtful, prayerful, and faithful."

Robinson will likely return to the church within 14 days with a written response to their request for a more orthodox bishop.

Jerry DeLemus, senior warden of the church’s vestry, said the group would study Robinson’s response and determine whether an agreement could be reached.

For now, the church will remain under the guidance of Robinson and the New Hampshire Diocese. DeLemus said Robinson has made it clear he is not permitted to turn over jurisdiction to a different church leader entirely.

Both Robinson and DeLemus said they were pleased to be able to sit down and have an amicable conversation, even if an agreement hadn’t been reached.

"It shows that good, faithful people can disagree about certain passages of the Scripture," Robinson said. "We are prayerfully trying to come to an agreement."

During the two-hour closed-door session, as many as 40 members of various fellowships around the Seacoast sang and prayed inside the church.

Beforehand, Robinson addressed that group and prayed with them.

Conservative Episcopalians, who have spoken out against Robinson’s leadership, have said they are not against homosexuals; rather, they do not approve of Robinson’s leadership because he has not repented for what are, according to their view of Scripture, his sins.

"The difference the parish feels is that it’s a scriptural authority we’re having the difficulty with. It’s not Gene Robinson as a person," said DeLemus.

Robinson said he, like many others, repents for his sins every day, but having a long-term, monogamous relationship with a person of the same sex is not one of them.

"I’ve come to a place in my life where God feels I need not repent for that," said Robinson.

Also in attendance at the meeting was Rev. William Murdoch, the head of the Northeast Chapter of the Anglican Community Network, a national orthodox organization opposed to Robinson’s consecration.

The Seacoast Missionary Fellowship, a group of conservative Episcopalians who have left the church entirely, joined those in the prayer session outside of the meeting.

If the two sides are not able to reach a compromise, both Robinson and DeLemus acknowledged some parishioners may decide to leave the Episcopal Church altogether.

However, both also said it would be unfair to predict a mass separation from the church before each side has ample time to sort things out.

"Our hope is that those who have left will come back," said Robinson. " I think it’s better for families to work these things out."

The vestry is expected to meet with Robinson again to continue the discussion, either at the end of the month or in the beginning of May.

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