Persons contacted by TLC for their reactions to the decisions by the Court for the Trial of a Bishop were not surprised by the news. Contacts were made by telephone shortly after the announcement in Wilmington, Del.

Max Bell of Wilmington had been at the Cathedral of St. John for the announcement.

"I was pleased there was a 7-1 disposition," he said. "I thought the majority opinion was very scholarly and helpful. It was an education to hear it. Those people spent an inordinate amount of time handling this, and I'm so thankful for it."

"This is a challenge to the church to come to grips with the ordination of homosexuals," said Claire Stahler, of Lake Placid, N.Y., a General Convention deputy from the Diocese of Albany.

The Rev. Lucinda Laird, rector of St. Mark's, Teaneck, N.J., in the Diocese of Newark, was ecstatic over the news.

"Hallelujah! Thanks be to God!" she exclaimed, several hours after hearing the verdict.

"I was driving back from graduation at General Seminary when I heard it on the radio," she said. "I almost drove into the wall of the Lincoln Tunnel.

"I'm pleased that the decision was so clear. It's obvious that General Convention can't pass anything on (ordination of homosexuals) one way or another."

The Rev. G. Wayne Smith, rector of St. Andrew's Church, Des Moines, Iowa, said he saw the announcement on ECUNET.

"This is what I expected, and what I had hoped for," he said. "The judicial process has not been helpful in reaching decisions and it probably will not be helpful in the future."

Fr. Smith said Bishop Righter "is fondly remembered by the clergy" in Iowa, where he was diocesan bishop for more than 16 years. He added that many lay persons felt "it was a rotten thing to happen to him."

Hobart Banks of San Francisco, a member of the national Executive Council, called the matter "a trial case," and said he thought the issue of doctrine was the proper focus.

The Rev. Ashmun Brown, rector of St. Francis' Church, Bushnell, Fla., seemed surprised when told of the outcome, but then replied, "I guess I'm not surprised. Our Anglican heritage requires us to live with a great deal of ambiguity."

The Rev. Deborah Dunn, a non-parochial priest in the Diocese of Los Angeles, was thankful for the members of the trial court.

"I'm grateful to the bishops who had to take charge," she said. "This has been done at much cost to the church. I'm pleased the bishops didn't shirk their responsibility."

Two organizations holding contrasting opinions on the issue, Integrity and Episcopalians United, issued statements.

"By disregarding the church's doctrine of marriage, this court has condemned the Episcopal Church to still more anarchy and conflict," said the Rev. Todd H. Wetzel, executive director of EU, an organization for traditionalists.

"Integrity, Inc., the lesbian and gay justice ministry of the Episcopal Church, is deeply grateful that the church has listened to the Holy Spirit and has reaffirmed the inclusivity of the gospel," said a statement by Integrity's national board.

The Rev. Gerald Anderson, rector of St. Anthony's on the Desert, Scottsdale, Ariz., also was thankful for the announcement.

"I don't want the turmoil that goes along with the ramifications that could have been made," he said. "This was just a new way to look at an old issue. The homosexual issue is not an easy issue to deal with."

Others also looked ahead cautiously.

"I am hopeful this (process) will not set the church back," Mr. Bell said. "There is enough in these decisions for a giant step forward."

"The church is larger than any one issue," Mrs. Stahler said. "If we are able to put aside our own egos ... If we seek to find Christ in each other, we will be given the direction to take."

Bishop Richard Grein of New York released a statement in which he said, "The issue is far from settled for the church. The practice of ordaining non-celibate homosexuals and conducting same-sex unions are issues which will continue to divide us, and it would be dishonest for us to pretend that things are now settled."

"We need to keep praying ... keep staying together," Ms. Laird said. "We need to genuinely honor each other."